Latest FinTech & Blockchain News
US Senate Banking Committee advances comprehensive crypto market structure bill
The US Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee will hold a markup session on a **digital asset market structure bill** aimed at comprehensive crypto regulation. Chairman Tim Scott says the legislation is intended to provide clear rules that protect retail investors, keep innovation in the US, and strengthen national security, with the bill potentially moving to the full Senate if it passes committee.
Korea accelerates regulatory framework and pilots for won-denominated stablecoins
South Korea is moving toward allowing **won-pegged stablecoins**, initially via a bank-led consortium, with later expansion to fintech issuers under debate among regulators. The first KRW stablecoin, **KRWQ**, launched in partnership with Frax, surpassed 1 billion won in trading within two weeks, highlighting early demand as policymakers weigh oversight structures and integration with legacy payment rails.
Global stablecoin market forecast to top $2 trillion as integration with payments deepens
A Morgan Stanley report cited by Korean media projects the **global stablecoin market could exceed $2 trillion by 2028**, driven by trading, remittances, e‑commerce, and B2B payments. Ripple president Monica Long expects stablecoins to integrate with traditional financial rails in 2026 and become fully embedded in global payment systems within five years, underscoring stablecoins’ central role in future fintech infrastructure.
Binance to rebrand Frax Share (FXS) to Frax (FRAX) and migrate all services
Binance will support the **mainnet switch and rebranding of Frax Share (FXS) to Frax (FRAX)** at a 1:1 conversion ratio, delisting FXS spot pairs and listing FRAX/USDT. FXS deposits, withdrawals, derivatives, margin, lending, and payments will be phased out and migrated to FRAX, with Binance handling technical changes while advising users to adjust positions to avoid losses.
BNB Chain to accelerate block times with Fermi hard fork upgrade
Developers of BNB Chain’s BSC mainnet plan the **Fermi hard fork**, shortening block intervals from 750 ms to 450 ms to boost throughput and transaction efficiency. The upgrade requires validators to run versions v1.6.4 or v1.6.5 and reflects ongoing competition among smart‑contract networks to improve performance for DeFi, payments, and gaming applications.
Binance to halt support for selected token networks, warning of potential asset loss
Binance will stop supporting **deposits and withdrawals** for Dar Open Network (D) on Ethereum and Streamr (DATA) on BNB Smart Chain and Polygon, while keeping other networks available. The exchange warns that deposits made via the discontinued networks after the cutoff will not be credited and may result in asset loss, highlighting continuing adjustments in centralized exchanges’ blockchain connectivity.
New L1 blockchain Fogo to unlock ~39% of tokens and launch community airdrop
Layer‑1 blockchain **Fogo** will unlock about **38.98% of its token supply** at network launch, combined with a community airdrop initiative. The large initial unlock and airdrop structure aim to bootstrap ecosystem activity and decentralization, but also raise questions for investors about supply overhang and long‑term token economics.
Berachain’s Infrared protocol ending IR token airdrop distribution
Infrared, the **liquid staking protocol** on Berachain, will cease its **IR token airdrop** on January 12, closing a key early‑user incentive program. The end of the airdrop marks a shift from growth by giveaways toward more sustainable usage and fee‑driven incentives within the Berachain DeFi ecosystem.
Institutional crypto adoption surges with tokenized assets and new banking services
Analysts describe 2026 as a tipping point for **institutional crypto adoption**, with banks and asset managers expanding custody, tokenization, and trading services under clearer regulations. JPMorgan and SoFi are cited as examples of firms moving deeper into tokenized real‑world assets and retail crypto access, while new accounting standards and harmonized rules are helping position crypto as a mainstream asset class.
Revolut in talks to acquire Turkish neobank in early 2026 fintech M&A move
Fintech newsletter coverage reports that **Revolut is in talks to acquire a Turkish neobank**, marking one of the first notable fintech M&A deals of the year. The potential acquisition would expand Revolut’s footprint in emerging markets and illustrates how global fintechs are using M&A to enter regulated local banking sectors rather than building from scratch.