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
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.
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Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. acting Chair Travis Hill released a trove of internal supervisory correspondence from the agency to banks regarding proposed cryptocurrency business lines or relationships, initiatives Hill said were "universally met with resistance" by the agency.
February 5
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. will ban certain Cuban payments, mirroring Trump's pressure on cross-border payments during his first administration.
February 5
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While Republicans and Democrats found some agreement that consumers of all stripes should be included in the banking system, they differed wildly on who is to blame for banks dropping customers.
February 5
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Committees in both the House and Senate will hold hearings this week about debanking — a term that means different things to different people.
February 4
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A letter from three law firms retained by Coinbase argued that existing federal laws and regulations already authorize banks to provide cryptocurrency services and to engage with third-party service providers like Coinbase.
February 4
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The cryptocurrency exchange made the move to follow the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, which tightens rules for digital assets in the European Union.
January 31
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Non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies have no inherent value, so creating a federal "reserve" of them is absurd on its face. Chinese hacking of bitcoin will have no significant economic impact.
January 30
The first three months of the year coincide with the start of President Donald Trump's second term in office. Investors are likely to be more interested in banks' outlooks amid swings in tariff policy than the first-quarter results.
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