Coinbase's revenge, CFTC shade-throwing highlight return of 'winter filter'

Coinbase debuted an interest-bearing product for non-U.S. users a day after warning lawmakers the U.S. is at risk of being left behind. Also, "regulating through enforcement" comes under fire — from a regulator.

By Dan Ennis • Dec. 10, 2021

Crypto execs tout financial inclusion during digital-asset hearing

Circle, for example, aims to funnel "billions of dollars" of USDC dollar-denominated reserves into minority depository institutions to aid underserved communities, CEO Jeremy Allaire told lawmakers Wednesday.

By Anna Hrushka • Dec. 9, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

The Banking Dive Outlook on 2022

Some narratives in 2022, such as office returns, will seem like a logical progression from the year before. Others, such as the regulatory sphere and shift toward smaller M&A, may mark a big shift from the previous 12 months.

By Banking Dive staff

Crypto execs push for tailored regulation, but not a rush to judgment

At stake, they said in a Wednesday hearing on Capitol Hill, is the U.S.'s leadership in the field.

By Dan Ennis • Dec. 8, 2021

The decentralization in DeFi just an illusion, BIS says

DeFi is ripe for regulation before the ecosystem becomes more popular, the Basel, Switzerland-based organization says in its quarterly report.

By Robin Bradley • Dec. 7, 2021

New York Fed, BIS partner on fintech research center

The innovation hub is meant to support the U.S. central bank's analysis of digital currencies, including CBDCs, and to help make cross-border payments faster and less expensive, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said.

By Robin Bradley • Dec. 3, 2021

Quotable Quarles: 5 takeaways from the Fed governor's farewell speech

The outgoing central bank official suggested a change to big banks' stress-testing framework, warned against stifling digital-asset innovation and cautioned the misuse of Fed emergency funds.

By Dan Ennis • Dec. 3, 2021

How Stash helps its customers navigate emerging wealth tools

"One of the biggest learnings for us ... was making sure that we give context to the information that we're asking for and why," said Claudio Esposito, the fintech's senior vice president of product.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • Dec. 3, 2021

Diem co-creator Marcus to leave Facebook parent Meta by end of year

In a series of tweets and Facebook posts Tuesday, David Marcus said he is leaving to pursue other projects. Stephane Kasriel, vice president of product at Novi, will take over his role leading the stalled crypto effort.

By Anna Hrushka • Dec. 1, 2021

Mizuho group CEO resigns amid spate of IT woes

Tatsufumi Sakai is at least the third executive at the Japanese financial firm to step down in connection with issues that prompted a regulator and the country's ministry of finance to issue orders seeking improvement.

By Dan Ennis • Nov. 29, 2021

UK fintech Thought Machine surpasses $1B valuation

The company raised $200 million in its most recent funding round, which it said will provide capital for the continued development of its SaaS product Vault, already in use by JPMorgan Chase.

By Robin Bradley • Nov. 29, 2021

Senate banking panel chair seeks stablecoin issuer feedback

The complexity of stablecoins makes it difficult for investors and consumers to fully understand their potential risks, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH, said in letters to eight issuers and exchanges, including Coinbase and Tether.

By Anna Hrushka • Nov. 29, 2021

Fintechs Blueacorn, Womply added to House panel's PPP probe

A subcommittee focused on COVID-19's impact seeks documents and information on the companies' fraud prevention measures. The panel made similar requests of Kabbage, BlueVine and others in May.

By Dan Ennis • Nov. 24, 2021

Bank regulators to roll out crypto guidance in 2022

A two-page report doesn't provide many details regarding how banks should navigate digital assets, but regulators said the industry should expect further guidance throughout the next year.

By Anna Hrushka • Nov. 23, 2021

Citi names crypto team chief, looks to hire 100 more in digital asset effort

Puneet Singhvi will become the head of digital assets for Citi's institutional clients group Dec. 1, according to an internal memo.

By Robin Bradley • Nov. 23, 2021

Banks, fintechs navigate market's appetite for crypto amid pending regulatory guidance

From Bitcoin rewards to custody services for digital assets, banks and fintechs are carving out strategies and services tied to crypto as regulators seek to catch up with guidance.

By Anna Hrushka • Nov. 22, 2021

Re-architect banking around the customer

Backbase delivers complete, end-to-end solution with the help of Microsoft.

Nov. 22, 2021

Fed's Waller warns against bank-only stablecoins

"While regulations are necessary, they also limit free entry into at least some of the markets in which banks operate," Waller said. "As a result, regulatory oversight can insulate banks from some forms of direct competition."

By Robin Bradley • Nov. 18, 2021

German challenger bank N26 to shutter US operations

Accounts for the fintech's 500,000 U.S. customers will be closed Jan. 11. The company is aiming to expand into more countries in eastern Europe and still plans to launch services in Brazil.

By Dan Ennis • Nov. 18, 2021

U.S. Bank to buy travel and expense management fintech TravelBank

After a yearlong partnership, the Minneapolis lender opted to buy the fintech outright, in a deal reportedly worth $200 million.

By Robin Bradley • Nov. 17, 2021

Ripple puts SEC on losing end in crypto regulation proposal

The company said the existing framework can be adapted to fit crypto and touted legislation that would de-emphasize the SEC's role in favor of the CFTC.

By Dan Ennis • Nov. 17, 2021

LMI lender Oportun to buy digital bank Digit in $213M cash-equity deal

The deal will result in Digit and Oportun having access to a combined 1.4 million members, to whom both entities plan to cross-sell their products.

By Anna Hrushka • Nov. 16, 2021

Connecticut bank, fintech propose merger eyeing digital national lender

Stamford-based Patriot National Bank will pay $119 million to buy American Challenger Development Corp., a company that had been pursuing a de novo charter, in a deal announced Monday.

By Robin Bradley • Nov. 15, 2021

BM Technologies to buy Seattle community bank to 'accelerate earnings power'

The $23 million deal, set to close in the second half of 2022, will allow BM Technologies to supplement fee-based income with net interest income, CEO Luvleen Sidhu said.

By Anna Hrushka • Nov. 15, 2021

Banks outpace other industries in cyber investments, defense strategies: report

"Still, we view the banking sector as high risk in terms of cybersecurity, because of how attractive it is as a target for many different types of attackers," said Lesley Ritter, a vice president and senior analyst at Moody's.

By David Jones • Nov. 15, 2021

Crypto creeps into the checkout line

Payments firms are betting on crypto's growth as an asset class to fuel crypto adoption at checkout.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • Nov. 10, 2021