US-based fintech SoFi has once again made waves in the financial world with the launch of its Bitcoin Lightning-powered international remittance service. The official announcement was made on August 19, 2025, marking a historic step in digital finance.

Partnering with blockchain firm Lightspark, SoFi enables cross-border transfers that are faster, cheaper, and more transparent. The service leverages Universal Money Address (UMA) technology, converting US dollars into Bitcoin in real time, sending them across the Lightning Network, and finally converting them into the recipient’s local currency.

The main advantage lies in efficiency. What once took days can now be completed in seconds, with far lower costs than traditional money transfer providers.

SoFi is initially rolling out the service to Mexico, a market chosen due to its high remittance flow from the United States. Expansion to other countries will follow gradually.

SoFi CEO Anthony Noto emphasized that this is not just about technology, but about delivering meaningful improvements to users’ daily financial lives. Meanwhile, Lightspark CEO David Marcus called Bitcoin the only truly open global payment network capable of driving real financial inclusion.

Despite the positive reception, SoFi’s stock dropped nearly 4% following the announcement. Investors remain cautious, awaiting clarity on regulations and the sustainability of the blockchain-based business model. Still, for the remittance industry, SoFi’s move is considered a game-changer, disrupting the dominance of traditional players.

Meanwhile, in the energy sector, Australian oil and gas company Santos shocked markets by announcing a delay in its planned US$18.7 billion acquisition by a consortium led by ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company).

Originally scheduled for completion by August 22, 2025, the deal now requires at least four more weeks. The delay stems from regulatory approvals still pending across several jurisdictions, including Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the United States.

The delay immediately hit the markets. Santos shares fell 3.5%, reaching a five-week low at A$7.68. Its interim financial report, initially set for August 20, was postponed to August 25, 2025.

The acquisition, one of Australia’s largest cash takeovers, carries an enterprise value of A$36.4 billion, including debt. However, given Santos’s strategic importance in Australia’s energy sector, final approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board remains crucial.

These two stories highlight very different dynamics on the international stage. In finance, SoFi’s blockchain innovation opens a new era of cross-border remittances. In energy, Santos’s delayed acquisition underscores the complexity of billion-dollar deals in a world governed by strict regulations.

Both are equally influential: one accelerates digital financial inclusion, while the other reshapes the geopolitics of global energy.

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