Tech company Circle files for an IPO; Amazon wants to extend its Just Walk Out technology to hospitals; Pacific Financial expands in suburban Oregon; and more in the weekly banking news roundup.

While stablecoins do find utility as a base currency for navigating between volatile cryptocurrencies, their broader application as a fiat money alternative remains elusive.

The decision could make bitcoin a major part of more investing portfolios. But after bitcoin, the SEC is likely to move slowly on approving other crypto-tied ETFs.

An initiative in Baltimore to use blockchain tech to track and manage vacant properties is a prime example of how blockchain can help solve stubborn problems, even if it isn't ready to revolutionize the fundamentals of commerce.

BlackRock, Ark and several other prospective issuers of exchange-traded funds investing directly in bitcoin in the U.S. filed amended forms for their applications with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In the news this week: A consumer group filed a complaint against Starbucks over its mobile app and reloadable gift cards, Apple Pay added a new payment tech firm, The Clearing House hired Amanda Stewart as its new marketing chief, and more.

The use of digital wallets to finance the Hamas attack on Israel highlights the need for tighter controls on the transfer of cryptocurrencies.

When you centralize a blockchain, you lose much of its inherent value. Acting Comptroller Michael Hsu's support for centralized tokenization betrays a misunderstanding of the value of decentralization.

Germany, traditionally a cash-heavy economy, is seeing a rise in debit card use. Meanwhile, Indian regulators accuse several crypto exchanges of violating anti-money-laundering rules.

Before a spot bitcoin ETF is approved, we're going to need to see much more clarity about how applicants draw the line between custody and trading.