Latest FinTech & Blockchain News
Banks and Fintechs Battle for Stablecoin Dominance Under GENIUS Act
$8B in fintech-crypto M&A in 2025 drives blockchain infrastructure growth as banks like JPMorgan tokenize deposits on Coinbase Base to compete with fintechs. Fintechs leverage regulatory arbitrage for faster stablecoin payments, challenging Tether/USDC with Ethena's USDe.
Tech giants like Apple and Meta explore stablecoin integrations for decentralized payments.
Coinbase Named Top 2026 Fintech Pick with $415 Price Target
Clear Street analyst Owen Lau ranks Coinbase alongside Nasdaq and S&P Global as top fintech for 2026, citing blockchain adoption and diversified revenues. Growth from subscriptions, stablecoins, and on-chain services positions it to weather crypto cycles.
Report highlights 2025 structural blockchain progress despite flat token prices.
Crypto Investment Expands in 2025 but Capital Grows Selective
Coin Metrics reports spot Bitcoin ETFs hold 1.36M BTC with $150B AUM, deepening crypto-capital markets convergence. Staking products like BlackRock's Ethereum ETF signal shift to yield-generating portfolios.
Exchanges like Coinbase evolve into super apps with tokenized products and stablecoin interest.
Korea Faces Stablecoin Dilemma Between Banks and Fintechs
New Digital Asset Act debates bank control vs. fintech innovation, with FSC citing EU MiCA where non-banks dominate issuers. Kakao Group plans KRW stablecoin ecosystem linking Pay, Bank, and Talk for wallet-to-wallet payments.
Banks like KB and Shinhan pilot stablecoins tied to CBDC; Circle/Tether file KRW trademarks.
Five Crypto Firms Gain OCC Approvals for National Trust Charters
Circle, Ripple, BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos receive conditional approvals for Fed payment rail access. This enables tighter banking integration and stablecoin expansion into remittances and payments.
Move supports convergence of crypto-native firms with traditional finance.
Mike Novogratz: XRP and Cardano Must Prove Real Utility in 2026
Crypto shifts from narrative to business-driven tokens requiring adoption and revenue, with 2026 as key checkpoint. Wallets and exchanges evolve into full banks offering stablecoins and tokenized assets.
Transition expected over 1-3 years, reshaping everyday finance.
JPMorgan Freezes Accounts of Venezuelan Fintech Startups
JPMorgan shuts accounts for Blindpay and Kontigo, stablecoin traders in Venezuela, amid compliance tensions. Highlights challenges for crypto firms in volatile regions bridging financial gaps.
Boosts demand for compliant on/off-ramps like Cybrid and Transak.
DeBot Compensates Users After Asset Security Transfers
DeBot enables transfers from risky wallets to secure addresses for blockchain protection, with compensation post-audit. Amid Bitcoin near $88K and $27B options expiry on Deribit.
Aims to reinforce contract security and user funds.
2026 Fintech Defined by Tokenization and Stablecoins
Token deposits, securities, and RWAs to streamline settlements and liquidity; stablecoins enable seamless cross-border treasury ops. B2B infrastructure like APIs and compliance layers drive unseen value creation.
Institutions ignoring shift risk missing major enhancements.
DTCC Gets SEC Nod to Tokenize Russell 1000, ETFs on Blockchains
DTCC permitted to tokenize Russell 1000, ETFs, and Treasuries on public chains; Galaxy and Robinhood follow with equities on Solana. Real-world asset tokenization moves from experiment to production.
Widens migration of money market funds and more to blockchains.
Arthur Hayes Accumulates LDO and PENDLE in DeFi Bet
Hayes invests $1.03M in LDO and $973K in PENDLE, signaling DeFi rally potential. Amid broader market shifts toward utility-driven tokens.
Highlights growing interest in DeFi protocols.