Operation Chargeback uncovered one of the most extensive international fraud structures in recent years, and the scale of the case created headlines across the world. The investigation brought together Europol, Eurojust, and law enforcement from multiple countries, with the final coordinated action revealing a criminal network which moved hundreds of millions of euros through shell companies and fake subscriptions - using their highly professional and advanced payment knowled

Jevons Paradox was introduced by William Stanley Jevons, an English economist, in 1865. He observed that technological improvements that increase the efficiency of using a resource often lead to an overall increase in the consumption of that resource, rather than a decrease, which was an observation that went against common logic. A similar pattern is happening now with FinTech applications, especially those available through mobile platforms. Faster, cheaper, and easier paym

Viktoria Soltesz joined Nikita at the latest episode of PAYMENTS FM  to share real stories and practical insights from her work with thousands of companies around the world. The discussion covered the challenges and opportunities in international payments and banking, from misclassified merchants and high-risk industries to offshore entities, crypto, and the future of cross-border finance. Viktoria explained how companies lose money not because of regulations or banks, but

At the recent Fintech by HIPTHER meetup, Viktoria Soltesz spoke about how small economies like Cyprus and Malta face a double-edged challenge.  She explained during the discussion how small island economies operate under a double-edged dynamic, where their size allows them to adapt quickly and attract new business models, but it also increases their exposure to risk. When a country depends heavily on external investors and cross-border flows, its appetite for business can ea

China’s slowdown sent shockwaves through global payments and banking. Transfers took weeks, approvals froze, and billions got trapped in limbo as the government tightened control on every cross-border transaction. Some exporters turned to stablecoins to move money, bypassing the rules but this only created an even bigger risk to financial stability. Businesses worldwide faced shrinking margins, higher fees, and disrupted cash flows that threatened their survival. Read my arti

My latest article “Chief Payment Officer (CPayO): The Role That Doesn’t Exist – But Should”  has just been published in The Green Sheet’s October 2025 issue , a leading US magazine for payments and fintech professionals. The article explains why every modern business needs a Chief Payment Officer  – a C-level executive who brings finance, compliance, product, and technology into alignment through a structured payment and banking strategy. It shows how payments impact growth,