The big news: Fintech giant Rocket Companies agreed to buy real estate brokerage and mortgage origination company Redfin for $1.75 billion in an all-stock deal. The transaction was approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2025.
On the move: Embedded banking company ClearBank named Mark Fairless as its new Chief Executive Officer. Fairless previously served as Chief Financial Officer for the company and replaces Co-Founder Charles McManus, who will remain as a non-executive member on the Group Board.
The buzz: Crypto payments company MoonPay announced that it had acquired API-driven stablecoin infrastructure company Iron in a deal reportedly worth at least $100 million. The move comes two months after the company purchased UK-based crypto payment processor Helio for $175 million.
On the rise: Personal finance company SoFi expanded its loan platform with a $5 billion Loan Platform Business agreement with Blue Owl Capital. The two-year deal marks SoFi’s largest Loan Platform Business agreement to date, and refers pre-qualified borrowers to loan origination partners as well as originates loans on behalf of third parties.
What’s next: Visa unveiled its Scam Disruption Practice to protect consumers, clients and businesses. The new department, which sits under Visa Payment Ecosystem Risk and Control, saved victims $350 million across dozens of scams last year, the company announced.
