Wero – The New European Payment System That Will Compete With Apple Pay And Google Pay

A new European payment system called Wero is available for those who prefer to pay via their mobile phone in Germany, DPA reported.

KEY FACTS

Most savings and cooperative banks in Germany already work with Wero, the agency said.
The payment system is a competitor of the American company for online payments and financial services PayPal, as well as Visa and Mastercard.
Among the goals of the project is to stop the distribution of Apple Pay and Google Pay services in Europe.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Unlike money transfers made through banks, with Wero, you do not need an international bank account number (IBAN) of the recipient of the money. Instead, you can use his mobile phone number or his email address, BTA reported. Money is sent and arrives within 10 seconds, according to Wero’s creators.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

It should be possible from 2025 to be able to make online money transfers through the app, and from 2026 to be able to make payments in larger stores.

Wero is supported by a joint venture involving 14 banks and two payment companies. Among the banks participating in the project is the Belgian KBC.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Bitcoin Surges 23% In A Week As Investor Optimism Returns

by News Editor

August 21, 2026

Bitcoin was on track for a weekly gain of around 23% on Friday as a series of positive macroeconomic and policy developments boosted investor sentiment.

The cryptocurrency was trading about 6% higher at roughly $77,000, up from around $62,800 at the start of the week. Crypto-related stocks also rallied, with Coinbase and Circle gaining more than 9%, while Strategy rose 7%.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Macro Factors Fuel Rally

Bitcoin’s latest surge began Wednesday after Treasury yields fell sharply following a major intervention by the U.S. Treasury in the bond market. Lower yields eased pressure on risk assets and helped trigger a broader move into cryptocurrencies.

The rally was further amplified by a major short squeeze. Around $2.7 billion in crypto short positions were liquidated, according to CoinGlass.

Max Stuedlein, head of Partnerships at Sygnum APAC, said the move reflected an alignment of macroeconomic and policy catalysts, including the Treasury’s decision to increase buybacks of longer-dated government debt.

Clarity Act Boosts Sentiment

Investor confidence improved further on Thursday as the White House and crypto industry leaders made a final push to advance the Clarity Act in the coming weeks.

The legislation is widely viewed as a potential catalyst for the crypto market, although its chances of passing remain relatively limited.

Despite the rally, bitcoin remains well below its 2026 high of $94,820 reached in January and its all-time high of $126,198, set last October.

Analysts See More Volatility Ahead

Lucy Gazmararian, founder and managing partner at Token Bay Capital, said the crypto market may be approaching the end of its bear cycle.

She expects bitcoin could experience one more decline of around 20% before the market turns, pointing to historical cycles and the recent liquidation of heavily leveraged short positions.

Gazmararian also described bitcoin as a long-term hedge against monetary debasement, while warning that its short-term price remains highly volatile and driven by market cycles.

Breaking news