This Leaders episode with PaymentsSource’s John Adams and Ripple’s Asheesh Birla, provides insight into the evolving blockchain landscape, examines how Ripple has navigated a shifting competitive environment, and takes a look at what lies ahead for RippleNet.

A new path forward for digital banks and their customers.

Security firm Intezer Labs is warning consumers using cryptocurrency wallet apps that a new malware strain is attacking and draining those wallets of crypto assets.

Several government agencies have made deeper moves into crypto oversight, leaving a trail of angry executives and unresolved political questions. And there's still no sign of a central bank digital currency, leaving the U.S. at risk of falling behind other countries in the race to support faster payment processing.

The digital currency and related distributed-ledger technologies could "enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and stability of the provision of payments," according to an interpretive letter issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Silvergate and Avanti are among the banks pioneering the incorporation of smart contracts, cryptocurrencies and other cutting-edge instruments into mainstream financial services.

The Securities and Exchange Commission last week accused Ripple of breaking securities laws, raising questions about the future of banks' ties with the company.

Join Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Square as he offers his insights into where the Fintech industry is headed next year. Will a Biden administration insist on greater regulation? What will happen in the cryptocurrency markets? What will be the big IPOs in the sector? Will GooglePlex make a big splash? What new technologies or applications should we be expecting?

The company did not disclose the nature of the suit, but CEO Brad Garlinghouse has long disputed the Securities and Exchange Commission's claim that XRP is a security, not a currency.

They're among a handful of companies willing to hold clients' digital assets for safekeeping. Many of their peers balk at the reputational and financial risks.