Latest FinTech & Blockchain News
Morgan Stanley Seeks Approval for Crypto ETFs
Morgan Stanley filed with the SEC to launch ETFs tied to Bitcoin and Solana prices, marking the first major U.S. bank move into crypto products. This follows regulatory clarity like OCC allowances for banks in crypto transactions and aims to attract clients preferring ETF liquidity and security.
Analysts predict it will legitimize crypto for traditional finance and spur competitors.
Barclays Invests in Stablecoin Settlement Firm
Barclays is investing in a stablecoin settlement firm, expanding its blockchain capabilities. This aligns with growing bank interest in digital assets for efficient transactions.
The move supports bridging traditional and crypto finance.
RAKBANK Gets Approval for Dirham-Backed Stablecoin
RAKBANK received in-principle approval to launch a UAE Dirham-backed stablecoin. This positions the bank as a pioneer in regional digital currencies.
It aims to enhance cross-border payments and local fintech innovation.
Lloyds and Archax Complete UK's First Public Blockchain Transaction
Lloyds Bank and Archax executed the UK's first public blockchain transaction using tokenized assets. This demonstrates practical blockchain use in regulated finance.
It highlights progress in institutional adoption of distributed ledger technology.
RegTech Trends for 2026: AI Dominates Compliance
By 2026, 26% of banking digital onboarding will use AI, up from 8% four years prior. Key trends include AI agents, legacy-RegTech partnerships, multi-agent systems, and AI governance for financial crime compliance.
Rising compliance costs drive RegTech adoption for efficiency and growth.
Digital Wallets Battle for Consumer Finance Dominance
Tech giants and fintechs compete as digital wallets evolve into full financial ecosystems beyond payments. This shift intensifies rivalry in consumer finance services.
Wallets now integrate banking, investments, and more for supremacy.
Retailers Hesitate on Crypto Payments Despite Ready Infrastructure
Fewer than 10% of retailers accept crypto due to unclear liability, custody, and compliance issues. Solutions like instant fiat conversion and familiar dashboards can make crypto seamless like card payments.
Clear responsibility models are key to accelerating adoption.
2026 Capital Divide: Frontier Tech Eyes IPOs While Ripple Stays Private
SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic near IPOs, potentially reshaping tech capital flows, while Ripple skips public markets after $500M raise at $40B valuation. Ripple uses private funds for acquisitions in custody and payments.
This highlights diverging paths for scaling tech firms.
Crypto Payments Evolution Faces Retail Trust Barriers
Stablecoins move trillions annually with consumer interest, but merchants stall on operational mismatches. Automatic conversion eliminates volatility exposure for retailers.
Integrating crypto into existing tools boosts scalability.
Banks Evolve from Crypto Custodians to Active Advisers
Morgan Stanley expanded crypto access to all clients; Bank of America allows recommendations from January. U.S. banks shift to advising on digital assets post-regulatory progress.
ETFs offer investors liquidity and compliance advantages over direct holdings.
RegTech Leaders Predict AI and Partnership Surge in 2026
Experts forecast heightened multi-agent AI, auditability standards, and financial crime compliance innovations. Partnerships between legacy firms and RegTech will bridge gaps.
AI handles monitoring to enable competitive growth.