Crypto in Banking

Digital assets, tokenization, and the evolution of crypto in banking

American Banker delivers trusted, journalist-driven analysis on how banks are navigating the world of crypto. From regulatory updates to use cases for blockchain infrastructure, this portal explores how digital assets are reshaping payments, custody, compliance, and more. Whether you're building strategy or managing risk, our crypto coverage helps financial leaders stay ahead of disruption.

American Banker highlights the areas where crypto is intersecting with core banking functions like compliance, settlement, and liquidity management. Our reporting avoids the hype and focuses on what matters to banks: oversight, infrastructure, and risk. Whether you're shaping strategy or monitoring market shifts, this is where the industry's crypto story takes shape.

International banking

Santander's Openbank launches crypto trading for retail clients

Starting Tuesday, the Spanish bank is allowing retail clients in Germany to trade Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, Polygon and Cardano. Openbank will expand the number of available tokens over the coming months.

September 16
Payments

PayPal's P2P upgrade has a crypto kicker

The payment company has made a series of moves to bolster its stablecoin and other coins to build a market for digital assets. Its Links feature adds to the strategy.

By John Adams
Executive Editor, Payments

September 16
Stablecoin

Tether targets December for launch of U.S.-regulated stablecoin

The world's largest stablecoin issuer is preparing to launch USAT, its U.S.-regulated, dollar-backed stablecoin, by the end of the year, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino told reporters at an event in New York. Bo Hines was also named CEO of USAT.

By Joey Pizzolato
Reporter

September 12
BankThink Don't buy the fintech flimflam on consumer-permissioned data sharing

Pious claims about the importance of free data are a smoke screen. What the fintech industry really wants is to stick banks with the bill for organizing, securing and delivering customer data on their behalf.

September 12

Ryan T. Miller
BankThink Crypto custody services could be banks' next revenue stream

Noelle Acheson points out that crypto custody is about more than incorporating new assets into an established service; it's about reshaping how we see standard financial concepts and using the resulting innovations to rethink client relationships.

September 11

Noelle Acheson
Payments

Revolut adds pay by bank option, expands Google Cloud deal

The U.K.-based super app expanded its partnership with Google Cloud as it looks to advance account-to-account payments; Global Payments launches Genius platform in the U.K.; and more in this week's global payments roundup.

By Joey Pizzolato and John Adams

September 10
Charter conversions

OCC creates senior role for bank chartering

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced that Stephen Lybarger will assume the role of Senior Deputy Comptroller for Chartering and Will Giles will be Principal Deputy Chief Counsel amid a surge in fintech and crypto trust charter applications.

By Ebrima Santos Sanneh
Reporter

September 9

Frequently Asked Questions:

How is American Banker’s crypto coverage different from crypto-native sites?

We don’t cover meme coins or speculative investing. Our editorial team reports from a banking-first lens — focusing on regulation, enterprise use cases, compliance, and tech partnerships involving banks, fintechs, and regulators.

What are the main ways banks are engaging with crypto today?

Digital payments innovation
Cross-border payments using blockchain rails
Tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) like treasuries and mortgages
Compliance tech for crypto transactions and AML screening
Partnerships with fintechs and exchanges

Is crypto still relevant after recent market volatility?

Yes — especially for regulated institutions. Crypto markets may be volatile, but underlying blockchain infrastructure continues to attract investment and regulatory scrutiny. Banks are investing in long-term use cases, not short-term speculation. The focus is on efficiency, transparency, and fitting new technology into existing financial systems.

Who contributes to American Banker’s crypto coverage?

Our reporters and editors have deep experience in financial regulation, payments, and fintech. We regularly interview bank executives, technologists, regulators, and policy analysts — bringing you real-world insights that matter to institutions.

Can American Banker crypto insights be shared in boardrooms and risk committees?

Yes. Our reporting is regularly cited by bank leaders, shared in investment decks, and used to support internal discussions on innovation, risk appetite, and digital transformation. For redistribution, see our licensing terms.

How do I stay up-to-date on the latest crypto news?

We update our crypto coverage regularly — in response to breaking regulatory moves, major institutional adoption, and industry shifts. Check back daily or subscribe to our newsletters to stay current. Coverage includes interviews with banking leaders, policy updates from Washington, and analysis of the latest technology pilots. As crypto continues to evolve, our reporting helps financial professionals track what matters most.

What are the key crypto-related themes to watch right now?

Banks are keeping a close eye on the growth of stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and how blockchain is being used to streamline payments and settlement. At the same time, regulatory decisions around custody, licensing, and compliance are shaping what’s possible in the months ahead.