Banking

On September 3, 2026, European fintech giant Revolut announced it has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a critical step toward obtaining a US national bank charter. Once finalized, Revolut will be able to offer full banking services in the United States, marking the London-based fintech’s formal entry into the US market to compete with domestic players like SoFi and Chime.

Fintech company SoFi partners with Payward to connect its banking settlement network with Kraken’s digital asset infrastructure, advancing traditional finance and crypto market integration.

The Blockchain Association supports Custodia Bank’s Supreme Court appeal over Fed master account access, saying the case is about ensuring ’lawful digital asset businesses can compete on equal footing.'

Core Summary UK lawmakers expressed strong dissatisfaction with banks refusing banking services to compliant crypto firms, calling it “one of the single biggest barriers to growth.” A parliamentary committee has formally demanded major banks explain their crypto client policies. Event Overview According to The Block and CoinDesk, a UK parliamentary committee recently questioned executives from major banks about why they refuse basic banking services to crypto companies registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. Lawmakers noted that many compliant crypto firms have been forced to relocate operations overseas due to lack of bank accounts, threatening the UK’s position as a fintech hub. ...

Core Summary Major U.S. banking industry groups have written to the Senate urging stronger regulatory provisions in the “Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act.” These groups warn that the current bill version could allow stablecoins to functionally substitute for bank deposits, increasing the risk of deposit flight from community banks and posing potential threats to the traditional banking system. Event Details According to The Block, multiple banking organizations including the American Bankers Association sent warning letters to the Senate. They pointed out that if stablecoin issuers can obtain bank-like status without being subject to equivalent regulatory constraints, it will create an unfair competitive environment. ...

Core Summary Alfa Bank, one of Russia’s major banks, has announced plans to launch a digital depository to provide cryptocurrency-related services for its clients. This move aligns with similar recent announcements from other large Russian banks, showing continued interest from the country’s banking sector in digital assets, while also reflecting the gradual formation of Russia’s crypto regulatory framework. Event Overview According to TheBlock, Alfa Bank’s digital depository will focus on providing compliant crypto asset custody and trading services for institutional and high-net-worth clients. This plan aligns with Russia’s recently passed crypto asset legal framework, which allows banks to provide digital asset services under specific conditions. ...

Financial institutions are racing to become secure gateways for stablecoins as digital asset volume is projected to surge by 2030.

[Flash] Traditional Banks Accelerate On-Chain Financial Infrastructure Executives at Robinhood and Bitstamp say traditional banks are now ready to build financial infrastructure on blockchains, marking the crypto industry’s shift from “what to do” to “how to do it,” CoinDesk reported. Both companies believe that as regulatory frameworks mature, institutional acceptance of on-chain technology is accelerating. This trend could drive broader mainstream adoption of crypto assets and push deeper integration between traditional finance and DeFi. ...

Europe largest bank HSBC reports Q1 pre-tax profit of $9.4 billion, slightly missing analyst estimates, with higher expected credit losses being the main drag.

Citi announces the launch of ‘Arc,’ an AI agent platform designed to scale autonomous AI agent technology across banking operations, marking a new phase in financial industry AI adoption.