Latest FinTech & Blockchain News
US Senators Unveil Draft Crypto Market Structure Bill
U.S. senators introduced draft legislation on January 12, 2026, to create a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency, clarifying regulators' jurisdiction and defining tokens as securities or commodities. The bill favors CFTC oversight for spot markets and addresses stablecoin interest payments sought by banks to prevent deposit flight.
Senate Banking Committee debates it on January 15.
Nasdaq Pushes Tokenized Securities for 2026 Corporate Treasury
Nasdaq is enabling trading of tokenized securities that settle through DTC, signaling blockchain integration into core U.S. capital markets. Tokenized assets like JPMorganās Collateral Network and BlackRockās BUIDL enable faster collateral movement, reducing settlement risk and improving treasury visibility.
CFOs urged to test infrastructure for real-time collateral management.
Clarity Act May Classify XRP Like Bitcoin and Ethereum
The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act could treat XRP, Solana, and others like Bitcoin and Ethereum if they underpin listed ETFs by January 1, 2026, exempting them from extra disclosures. It respects prior court rulings on non-security status and aims for predictable regulation.
Legal experts see it as a shift from case-by-case enforcement.
Solana Stablecoin Market Cap Surges to $13.3 Billion
Solana's stablecoin market cap grew fastest in 2025, from under $6B to $13.3B, outpacing Ethereum and Tron, driven by low-cost payments and DeFi. Institutions like Visa, PayPal, and Cash App are adopting Solana for stablecoin settlements.
Grayscale predicts it could rival Tron for affordable payments.
Coinbase Challenges State Crypto Regulations via Federal Lawsuits
Coinbase is filing federal lawsuits against state regulations to push for uniform crypto rules, as highlighted in the January 13, 2026 TLDR newsletter. This escalates efforts amid national regulatory debates.
Details focus on overriding fragmented state oversight.
Banks Push to Close Stablecoin Interest Payment Loophole
The new bill prohibits crypto firms from paying interest on stablecoins, addressing bank concerns over deposit flight from insured systems. Crypto industry calls it anti-competitive, while banks cite financial stability risks.
This stems from prior stablecoin framework legislation.
JPMorgan and BlackRock Advance Tokenized Collateral Networks
JPMorganās Tokenized Collateral Network converts money-market shares into seconds-fast collateral; BlackRockās BUIDL fund serves institutional off-exchange use. These reduce settlement exposure from days to minutes, impacting capital requirements.
They integrate with existing DTC systems.
Morgan Stanley Files for Solana Exposure ETF
Morgan Stanley filed for a Solana ETF last week, signaling major institutional interest in the network hosting the second-largest DeFi ecosystem. This follows stablecoin growth and payments adoption by Visa and others.
It boosts Solana's appeal for trading apps.
Western Union Plans Solana-Based USDPT Stablecoin in 2026
Western Union announced issuance of USDPT stablecoin on Solana sometime in 2026, joining PayPal's PYUSD and Visa's settlements. Jack Dorseyās Cash App will support USDC transfers on Solana.
This underscores Solana's rise in payments.
DTC Authorizes Tokenization in 2026 US Securities Settlement
DTCās 2026 authorization integrates tokenization into core U.S. securities settlement, allowing near-real-time collateral movement. This shrinks counterparty risk windows, optimizes liquidity reserves, and enables automated treasury rebalancing.
Nasdaq's proposal keeps ownership transfers in DTC.
Crypto Bill Faces Hurdles Ahead of 2026 Midterms
With Congress focusing on 2026 midterms, lobbyists doubt the crypto market structure bill will pass despite House approval last year. Debates stalled over AML and DeFi provisions; industry prefers it over uncertain regulatory guidance.
Digital Chamber welcomes progress.