Ajinkya Kawale
 "Ajinkya Kawale")
Ajinkya Kawale
Ajinkya Kawale works as a correspondent for Business Standard, specialising in the emerging fintech industry in India. In addition to his assigned beats, he has had the opportunity to cover agrarian distress in Maharashtra and political developments during the Lok Sabha election season. He holds a postgraduate degree in multimedia journalism from Christ University in Bengaluru. He is passionate about India's infotainment space on YouTube and other OTT platforms. His favourite sections in a library are non-fiction and biographies.
Ajinkya Kawale works as a correspondent for Business Standard, specialising in the emerging fintech industry in India. In addition to his assigned beats, he has had the opportunity to cover agrarian distress in Maharashtra and political developments during the Lok Sabha election season. He holds a postgraduate degree in multimedia journalism from Christ University in Bengaluru. He is passionate about India's infotainment space on YouTube and other OTT platforms. His favourite sections in a library are non-fiction and biographies.
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PhonePe retained top UPI spot with 46% market share in June, shows data
PhonePe maintains its leadership on the UPI leaderboard, capturing a 46.46% market share in June, processing over 8.54 billion transactions, according to NPCI data
 "PhonePe retained top UPI spot with 46% market share in June, shows data")
Fintech firm Cashfree Payments plans to add 100 lenders for VKYC by FY26
Cashfree Payments aims to scale its AI-based Video KYC solution to 100 lenders by FY26, targeting RBI-regulated entities to improve conversion rates and reduce wait times
 "Fintech firm Cashfree Payments plans to add 100 lenders for VKYC by FY26")
ED cracks down on opinion trading platform Probo, freezes ₹284.5 crore
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) freezes ₹284.5 crore worth of assets in its crackdown on Probo, an opinion trading platform. The company assures co-operation with ongoing law enforcement inquiries
 "ED cracks down on opinion trading platform Probo, freezes ₹284.5 crore")
Gaming firms craft new strategies to cash in on gameplay, scale reach
At the heart of the monetisation game, companies are betting on two pillars: In-app purchases and revenue from advertising
 "Gaming firms craft new strategies to cash in on gameplay, scale reach")
No betting on chance in Karnataka govt's real-money gaming playbook
According to the draft, the use of real money, tokens, virtual currency, or electronic funds for online betting or wagering is also prohibited
 "No betting on chance in Karnataka govt's real-money gaming playbook")
Smart devices to be next bastion for UPI with IoT-ready payment system
NPCI builds Internet of Things rails as UPI targets 10x growth
 "Smart devices to be next bastion for UPI with IoT-ready payment system")
Funding to fintech companies marginally dips to $889 million in H1CY25
Fintechs in India raised $889.2 mn in H1CY25, down 5.3% YoY and 25.9% from H2CY24, as deal count dropped significantly and late-stage rounds led capital inflow
 "Funding to fintech companies marginally dips to $889 million in H1CY25")
Gamezop expands to Bahrain, targets $6 million additional revenue
The Indian parent plans to invest $4 million to ramp up operations, hire local talent, and explore inorganic growth opportunities, including acquisitions
 "Gamezop expands to Bahrain, targets $6 million additional revenue")
MobiKwik's subsidiary receives Sebi approval to act as stock broker
MobiKwik Securities Broking (MSBPL), a subsidiary of MobiKwik, receives SEBI approval to act as a stock broker and clearing member, strengthening its position in the capital markets ecosystem.
 "MobiKwik's subsidiary receives Sebi approval to act as stock broker")
Real money gaming sector seeks unified regulatory playbook amid scrutiny
Currently, states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra are at varying stages of enforcing their own rules for the industry
 "Real money gaming sector seeks unified regulatory playbook amid scrutiny")
Zupee hits 150 million users, gameplay count doubles in eight months
Gaming platform Zupee has reached 150 million lifetime users and 12.5 billion gameplays, doubling usage since November 2024 through its skill-based formats
 "Zupee hits 150 million users, gameplay count doubles in eight months")
MobiKwik names Saurabh Dwivedi CTO, promotes Dhruv Wadhera to SVP
Saurabh Dwivedi joins as CTO to head payments, financial services, platform and InfoSec as MobiKwik focuses on AI-led tech; Dhruv Wadhera elevated to SVP
Pine Labs CEO Amrish Rau may net ₹1,000 crore as firm files for IPO
Pine Labs' DRHP shows CEO Amrish Rau's net worth may cross ₹1,000 crore as he sells shares via OFS, alongside Peak XV, PayPal, Mastercard and other investors
 "Pine Labs CEO Amrish Rau may net ₹1,000 crore as firm files for IPO")
RBI issues final guidelines on due diligence of AePS touchpoint operators
RBI's new AePS guidelines, effective January 2026, require acquiring banks to perform due diligence, monitor transactions, and update KYC of inactive operators
 "RBI issues final guidelines on due diligence of AePS touchpoint operators")
Govt, UPI apps to lay real-time digital tripwire for every payment tap
Extra layers of scrutiny to guard the digitally unversed
 "Govt, UPI apps to lay real-time digital tripwire for every payment tap")
Pine Labs plans ₹2,600 cr IPO; Peak XV, PayPal to trim stakes
Pine Labs files DRHP to raise ₹2,600 crore via fresh issue and OFS; proceeds to repay debt, expand globally, and invest in tech and digital checkout
 "Pine Labs plans ₹2,600 cr IPO; Peak XV, PayPal to trim stakes")
7 of 10 GenZs plan on switching jobs in 6 months for better pay: Survey
Deel survey finds high dissatisfaction among Indian Gen Z professionals with current pay, despite 11 per cent average hike, as many consider remote global roles
 "7 of 10 GenZs plan on switching jobs in 6 months for better pay: Survey")
'Baseline central norms for gaming will enable uniformity in compliance'
Creating a uniform set of rules for gaming will help domestic players and weed out unscrupulous offshore operators, says Sumanta Dey, VP at Head Digital Works which runs A23 Rummy and A23 Poker
 "'Baseline central norms for gaming will enable uniformity in compliance'")
Indian game studios level up with local IPs and cultural narratives
As players warm to culturally resonant content, Indian game studios shift focus from outsourcing to homegrown IPs rooted in local themes and traditions
 "Indian game studios level up with local IPs and cultural narratives")
Prosus bets on India as its creates number 1 lifestyle ecom company
PayU India reorganises payments business, tightens credit underwriting
 "Prosus bets on India as its creates number 1 lifestyle ecom company")
