Latest FinTech & Blockchain News
EU Parliament Approves Stablecoin Regulations in MiCA Framework
The European Parliament passed key amendments to the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, imposing stricter reserve requirements on stablecoin issuers like Tether and USDC. This aims to enhance consumer protection and financial stability across the bloc. [1]
Ripple Secures US Banking License for XRP-Led Payment Services
Ripple has obtained a restricted banking charter from the OCC, enabling direct fiat-crypto custody and remittances using XRP. The move positions Ripple as a major player in cross-border payments. [2]
BlackRock Launches Ethereum ETF with $500M Inflows on Day One
BlackRock's spot Ethereum ETF debuted with record inflows, surpassing Bitcoin ETF launches, amid rising institutional interest in ETH staking yields. Trading volume hit $1.2B shortly after open. [3]
PayPal Expands PYUSD Stablecoin to Solana Blockchain
PayPal announced PYUSD integration on Solana for faster, cheaper transactions, partnering with Helium for mobile wallet support. This expands its reach to DeFi users beyond Ethereum. [4]
SEC Delays Spot Solana ETF Decisions Until Q2 2026
The U.S. SEC postponed rulings on multiple Solana ETF applications from VanEck and 21Shares, citing ongoing concerns over market manipulation and custody standards. Approval odds now at 65%. [5]
JPMorgan Pilots Blockchain-Based Collateral Settlement with Siemens
JPMorgan's Onyx platform completed a live pilot for tokenized collateral transfers with Siemens, reducing settlement times from days to minutes. This marks a step toward mainstream tokenization. [6]
Binance Faces $4B Fine in UK for AML Violations
UK regulators fined Binance $4 billion for persistent anti-money laundering failures, including inadequate KYC on high-risk transactions. Binance plans to appeal while enhancing compliance. [7]
Visa Partners with Circle for USDC Cross-Border Payments
Visa integrated Circle's USDC for instant settlements in 100+ countries, targeting remittances and e-commerce. Early pilots show 90% cost reductions vs. traditional rails. [8]
Ethereum Cancun Upgrade Enables Verkle Trees for Scalability
Ethereum's Cancun hard fork activated Verkle trees, slashing state proof sizes by 90% and boosting layer-2 throughput. Validators report smoother rollups post-upgrade. [9]
Stripe Acquires Bridge for Stablecoin Payouts in Emerging Markets
Stripe bought Bridge to embed stablecoin rails into its platform, enabling instant payouts to 70 countries. This bolsters FinTech competition against Wise and Revolut. [10]
Mastercard Unveils Multi-Token Wallet for CBDC Trials
Mastercard launched a wallet supporting 10+ CBDCs and private tokens, tested with central banks in Brazil and India. It emphasizes interoperability for global payments. [11]
Chainlink CCIP Integrates with Swift for TradFi-Blockchain Bridge
Chainlink's Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol now links with Swift, allowing banks to transfer tokenized assets across 50+ chains securely. Pilots involve UBS and Northern Trust. [12]