Emin Gun Sirer, one of the higher-profile academic experts on blockchain technologies, is launching his own cryptocurrency coin and network with funding from some of the biggest venture capitalists in the field.

The idea stablecoin environment has variety, diversity and is decentralized, argues Matt Branton, CEO of Neutral.

Although the euphoria over blockchain has dissipated recently, many still see it as vital to the future of banks and the economy at large. Following are key issues being hashed out.

The Wild West of cryptocurrency trading is getting something typically associated with the safest of savings accounts: FDIC protection.

Some banks have backed away from the technology, but Northern Trust, State Street and JPMorgan Chase are among those actively working on blockchain projects.

Fidelity Investments, which began a custody service to store bitcoin earlier this year, will buy and sell the world’s most popular digital asset for institutional customers within a few weeks, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Big banks may have found a way to lower needed reserve levels; with Brexit delayed, Goldman will hold off on expansion.

Facebook’s pursuit of a crypto-based payment system would seem to be filled with potholes and red flags. The social network’s stealth project isn’t much of a secret, and another Facebook virtual currency has already failed years earlier. But Facebook also has a lot in its corner — enough to threaten the e-commerce and payment processing establishment, should its crypto project take off.

Digital coin could be used for purchases across the internet; Berkshire vice chair says he would have let Sloan stay on at Wells.

Martin Chavez, global co-head of the securities division at Goldman, suggested the bank is unlikely to fully support crypto until such currencies have the backing of the U.S. government.

The bank agreed to pay $150 million to California to settle charges it hid the risks on the sale of mortgage bonds pre-crisis; foreign suitors circle Commerzbank while Deutsche Bank seeks answers.

Until significant steps are taken toward creating a seamless and intuitive experience, blockchain will fall short of its goals, as it is unable to communicate its value.

The SEC and other regulators are taking a closer look at ICOs and mergers involving cryptocurrencies and distributed ledgers, which requires careful diligence for payment companies and dealmakers, according to Will Turner, a partner in the blockchain and cryptocurrency practice at Steptoe & Johnson.

Intercontinental Exchange Inc. has been facing resistance from federal regulators over a key part of its ambitious plan to bring Bitcoin to the masses. Now, the owner of the New York Stock Exchange is turning to state watchdogs to get the project over the goal line.

Harvard University’s endowment is backing Blockstack Inc., a crypto-company that seeks to hold a $50 million digital-token offering.

Small banks rise up against “onerous contracts and sometimes mediocre digital offerings”; Quarles warns banks to speed up preparations for Libor sunset.

Cash is expensive, overseas cards may be illegal and cryptocurrency is unreliable, argues David Ehrlich, COO and co-founder of Zodaka, who says e-wallets are an answer.

China signaled its intent to ban cryptocurrency mining, dealing a fresh blow to an industry buffeted by tumbling virtual currency prices, stiff competition and waning investor interest.

Cryptocurrencies will come and go but blockchain will flourish, because it has game-changing use cases that will fundamentally improve the way financial transactions get done, according to Vinay Pai, senior vice president of engineering at Bill.com.

Regulation is effectively priming the virtual currencies ecosystem for banks to engage by increasing transparency, reducing some of the associated risk, and lowering the barriers to entry. All of this will make it easier for banks to establish a role and to design new payment products, writes Elina Mattila, executive director at Mobey Forum.