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.

BankThink Banks need to choose carefully between public and private blockchains

Decisions about the kind of blockchains to use in rolling out banking products creates future path dependencies. It's important that banks get this decision right.

February 27

Denelle Dixon
Politics and policy

Comptroller Gould minimizes leading bank concerns in hearing

Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould took several assertive stances at a Senate Banking Committee hearing Thursday, minimizing concerns about banks' potential compliance costs to collect citizenship data and sidestepping questions about World Liberty Financial's trust charter application.

By Claire Williams
Reporter

February 26
Tokenization

WisdomTree gets SEC approval for 24/7 trading

The investment broker announced a real-time trading and settlement option for its tokenized money market fund through USDC stablecoins and the ethereum ledger.

By Melinda Huspen
Tech Reporter

February 25
Stablecoin

Stablecoins draw attention, but are still a tiny market

In this week's American Banker global payments and fintech roundup, Revolut, Tether and Circle made announcements designed to improve their standing in the stablecoin market. That comes amid new research from McKinsey that says the digital asset is growing quickly, but has not made even a small dent in payments.

By John Adams
Executive Editor, Payments

February 25
Licenses and charters

Crypto.com gets conditional approval for national trust charter

If the company gets final approval, it will be the newest crypto firm to receive a charter in recent months.

By Melinda Huspen
Tech Reporter

February 24
Digital banking

Payoneer seeks bank charter for new stablecoin

The payments firm wants to issue a stablecoin called PAYO-USD, joining a wave of digital asset companies seeking federal bank charters.

By Carter Pape
Technology Reporter

February 24
Politics

Permissibility is the real prize for banks in crypto bill

While bank and crypto lobbyists argue over yield provisions in the crypto bill, another part of the legislation could have a much bigger impact on banks' bottom lines.

By Claire Williams
Reporter

February 24

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.