Square, the mobile payments company, has joined with other tech companies in a cross-licensing platform to reduce patent lawsuits over cryptocurrency and promote the growth of digital currencies.

Eligible users may trade bitcoin and ether through the company's app and also use bitcoin when completing debit card purchases. More cryptocurrency options will be offered in coming months.

President Biden plans to nominate officials for three Democratic seats on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the nation’s main derivatives regulator.

The acquisition will give the card network tools to spot fraud in crypto and blockchain.

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu has appeared more circumspect than his predecessors about cryptocurrencies and other types of financial technology. Regulators are still seeking to understand the risks associated with these once-esoteric products, he says.

The Biden administration plans to select Kristin Johnson, a law professor who previously worked on Wall Street, for a Democratic seat on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Regulators and the Biden administration are considering how to respond to the sharp growth in digital assets pegged to fiat currency. Their options include establishing rules like those for bank deposits and having the Federal Reserve issue a digital dollar that competes with private-sector stablecoins.

David Marcus, Facebook's financial services chief, discusses how its Novi digital wallet and the Diem stablecoin project it's involved in can be the backbone of a platform that offers real-time digital transactions, acts as a merchant acquirer and helps commercial banks handle central bank digital currencies.

The U.S.’s measured approach will allow it to learn from other countries that are pioneering their own cryptocurrencies, according to executives from IBM, R3 and Public Mint.

Citigroup is considering whether to offer its biggest clients trading in Bitcoin futures as Wall Street continues its push into cryptocurrencies.

Finance that relies on smartphones and smart contracts can lower costs for banking services and promote financial inclusion, proponents say. But a look at who is using the technology tells a different story.

The Federal Reserve has been circumspect about whether it will issue its own digital currency. Observers are looking to an upcoming report by the central bank for clarity about its intentions and how a digital dollar would work with private stablecoins.

A consortium including Coinbase Global said all the reserves of the second-largest cryptocurrency stablecoin will shift into cash and short-term U.S. Treasurys, forgoing riskier investments.

The IRS and Justice Department waged a successful campaign to crack down on UBS and other Swiss banks for facilitating tax evasion. Coinbase, Kraken and other crypto exchanges should take note.

Most people aren't spending bitcoin in stores, but major point-of-sale terminal makers are developing technology and business relationships on the belief that demand will build fast.

CoinFund, a blockchain-focused investment firm, hired Christopher Perkins from Citigroup as managing partner and president to help bridge the gap to the traditional finance sector.

The billionaire entrepreneur, Dallas Mavericks owner and "Shark Tank" co-host has always been outspoken. In a recent interview, he shared his thoughts on the shortcomings of the Paycheck Protection Program, the problem with bank consolidation and the future of cryptocurrency.

The Boston-based cryptocurrency firm says it would welcome the tough oversight that comes with being a bank. Yet Biden-era regulators have shown apprehension about granting approvals to digital-asset firms.

Banks are traditionally the target of anti-money-laundering regulations and law enforcement’s efforts to crack down on illicit finance. As the cryptocurrency sector grows, policymakers may subject it to customer identification requirements and other measures, analysts say.