BankThink

Plaid strikes a deal with OpenAI that would allow ChatGPT users to upload their bank-account data. Is that such a good idea?

New bank capital rules have changed the calculus for many banks in the U.S., eliminating many of the barriers that prevented midsize institutions from growing. The result will likely be a rapid spike in mergers.

Crypto firms are becoming the kinds of trusted third parties bitcoin was created to get around, raising the question of what digital currencies are even for.

In a perfect world, statutory certainty about the treatment of digital assets would be preferable to regulatory guidance. However, banks that put off their crypto plans while waiting for Congress to act risk falling behind their more aggressive competitors.

Recent news reports about the struggles of Blue Owl Capital raise real concerns about opaque private credit firms and the risks they may pose to the broader financial markets. The government needs the tools to gather more information.

Given new government rules on payment processing, giants like Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo would benefit immensely from acquiring proprietary debit card networks. Why they haven't done so already is a mystery.

Every business needs a competitive advantage. But for banks their core product, money, is by definition commoditized. So where do banks find an advantage?

Lawmakers are moving toward a compromise that would ban yield payments on stablecoins, but allow other rewards. The distinction is functionally meaningless, and leaves small banks in danger of losing deposits.

Financial institutions, regulators, and developers are aligning around a common goal of creating infrastructure that makes our global financial system faster, more efficient, and more secure.

There are a lot of worrisome things going on out there, but the credit markets overall appear to be okay. For now. And that, really, is all that matters.