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Deep & Emerging Tech·August 7, 2026·1 min read

The US OCC denies Dutch fintech Bunq's application for a national bank charter, citing the need for more clarity on its business plan to expand in the US

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Regulators are tightening the bar for fintech bank charters — “clarity on the business plan” is code for risk, compliance, and profitability proof, not just growth narratives. If you’re a non-US financial player eyeing a charter, assume a longer, more expensive path and build parallel BD partnerships so expansion doesn’t hinge on a single OCC decision.

Deep & Emerging Tech

Analysis: SpaceX is on track to build ~10 GW of compute capacity by 2027's end, with 6 GW-8 GW in 2027 alone, which could drive $300B in annual revenue run-rate

If SpaceX really gets to ~10 GW of AI-grade compute by 2027 — with 6–8 GW landing in 2027 alone — compute becomes an integrated part of a launch + satcom + data stack, not just a cloud SKU. For operators, long-term AI infra planning now has to price in non-traditional providers that bundle bandwidth, orbit, and inference capacity into one industrial footprint.

Deep & Emerging Tech

Russia is kickstarting its plans to dominate the space race once again — but it will have to depend on Chinese hardware to do so

Russia’s Angara expansion leaning on Chinese equipment for critical manufacturing is another data point that space and defense supply chains are bifurcating along geopolitical lines. If your product touches launch, satcom, or dual-use hardware, assume export controls and vendor concentration risk will shape who you can sell to and who you can buy from.