Solaris launches Bankident Plus for compliant, fast customer onboarding with instant account access. Bankident Plus already meets upcoming German AML requirements, speeds up customer verification, and increases security during account opening. BERLIN - January 29, 2026 - Solaris, Europe's leading embedded finance platform, recently launched Bankident Plus, an enhanced identification solution that verifies a customer's identity and opens a bank account in one seamless flow. The new solution pairs a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) with a reference transfer completed during a customer's first account top-up. This simultaneous process meets the new requirements of Germany's Anti-Money Laundering Act and helps Solaris' partners boost onboarding conversion while reducing operational risk. Bankident Plus adds a short pre-identification step (selfie capture and ID photo), followed by a QES. The mandatory reference transfer is bundled into the first SEPA top-up. Once the payment is confirmed and the identity is verified and has successfully passed Solaris' fraud prevention systems, Solaris activates the account, giving customers immediate access and allowing them to use the account right away. Because identity verification is part of the top-up customers would make anyway, the flow is intuitive, safe, and time-saving. If identification fails, the account will not be activated.

Weekly harvest: trump-connected stablecoin, JPMorgan Chase takes over Apple Card & Solaris under new management. This episode starts with covering deliberations between Apple, the company most known for tech hardware, but, now more so, payment solutions, i.e. Apple Pay. Igor Tomych and Dumitru Condrea reflect on the news, although it exclusively affects their operations in the US. Moving on, going on a hot take, both hosts discuss World Liberty Financial applying for a banking license. The company in question is best known for its ties to the Trump coin, a subject of wide controversy. Last, but most certainly not least, the topic of Solaris, the biggest vendor for Web3 finance solutions, is changing its leadership. The news hits its co-host, Dumitru Condrea, a little closer to home, as he used to work for the company. JPMorgan Chase takes over Apple Card. JPMorgan Chase has agreed to take over the Apple Card partnership from Goldman Sachs, ending Goldman's high-profile but costly push into consumer finance. The move reflects Goldman's retreat from retail banking amid regulatory pressure, rising losses, and operational challenges tied to the Apple Card. For JPMorgan, the deal strengthens its position as the world's largest credit card issuer and deepens its relationship with Apple, giving it access to millions of affluent users and long-term growth in digital consumer finance. Trump-connected stablecoin. World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture linked to the Trump family, has applied for a US banking licence, signaling ambitions to operate within the regulated financial system. The move would allow the firm to offer deposit-taking and payment services alongside crypto products, bridging traditional banking and digital assets. The application comes as regulators increase scrutiny of crypto firms seeking legitimacy and stability. If approved, it could reshape perceptions of politically connected crypto ventures and intensify debate around regulation, influence, and risk in US financial services. Solaris under new management. Solaris has appointed Steffen Jentsch to lead its embedded finance platform, reinforcing its focus on scalable, regulated financial infrastructure. Jentsch brings experience in payments, banking, and platform strategy, positioning Solaris to accelerate growth across Banking-as-a-Service and embedded finance offerings. The appointment signals Solaris' intent to strengthen execution and partner support as competition intensifies and clients demand more compliant, modular financial products across Europe and global markets.

Solarix has raised €4.2 million to expand its solar facade technology internationally, with an additional €1.3 million reserved from the National Growth Fund. Investors include ROM InWest, VP Capital, and private investors. The funds will enhance Solarix's market position, expand its European reseller network, and support a subsidy application for automating assembly and color technology. The investment aims to optimize panel efficiency and processes.