While the world watched the US and China, Latin America, Africa, and Asia have made their own technological breakthroughs.
🇧🇷🇲🇽 Venture Leadership: Brazil & Record-Breaking Mexico
- Year-to-date, Brazil remains the largest LatAm market with $1.7B across 476 deals.
- In Q2 2025, Mexico surpassed Brazil in venture funding for the first time in 13 years: $437M (+85% YoY) vs $350M (–23%).
- Regional growth: +26%.
Drivers: Fintech dominance (55% of investment), strong recovery after the “VC winter”, focus on sustainability and profitability.
💰 Klar raises $190M
- Series C: $170M equity + $20M venture debt, valuation >$800M.
- Revenue nearing $300M/year, aiming for $500M by Q3 2025.
Significance: Largest fintech round in Mexico for 2025, preparing for a 2026 IPO.
🇳🇬 Nigeria: $59B Crypto Empire
- Confirmed as the world’s #2 crypto market by volume after the US.
- Bitget launched institutional services in July 2025.
Growth factors: Naira volatility, stablecoins as an inflation hedge, 80% of the market are blockchain startups.
🇬🇭 Ghana accelerates crypto regulation
- VASP registration deadline: August 15, 2025.
- New licensing for exchanges, AML requirements, minimum capital of 5M cedis.
Significance: First comprehensive crypto framework in West Africa.
🇰🇪 First Intra-African Crypto M&A
- Nigeria’s Roqqu acquired Kenya’s Flitaa — the region’s first publicly confirmed crypto M&A deal.
- Regulatory approval in Kenya allowed to bypass licensing delays.
Effect: Market consolidation, Nigeria strengthens as a hub, opens East Africa.
💥 PIX hack in Brazil — $100M
- Insider received $2,700 for compromised credentials.
- R$540M (~$100M) stolen, part laundered via BTC, ETH, USDT.
Lesson: Critical need for insider threat protection and layered cybersecurity.
🇮🇳 India leads in digital payments
- UPI processes 18.4B transactions monthly.
- Sector valued at $150B, projected to reach $400B by 2030.
Drivers: Instant free transfers, integration with investment apps, strong financial inclusion.
🔍 Summary:
- LatAm: Brazil remains the largest ecosystem, but Mexico set a quarterly record.
- Africa: Crypto trading, regulation, and intra-regional M&A are strengthening.
- Asia: Digital payments and fintech at scale.
- Overall trend: Regional hubs are reaching the global stage, finding their own models for growth and innovation protection.
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