MUFG Securities Americas is designated a primary dealer by the New York Fed; Founders Bank appoints Chris Lipscomb its senior vice president and chief lending officer; the Independent Community Bankers of America names Charles Yi senior executive vice president of government relations; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

The crypto lender issued over 5,000 loans to residents without a license and failed to assess repayment ability, the DFPI said.

Noelle Acheson explains how on-chain vaults, born in decentralized finance, could shape the centralized banking of tomorrow.

Stablecoin yield has continued to be a flashpoint as bank groups look for a blanket ban on crypto exchanges and other nonbanks offering yield-like rewards for holding crypto.

The bank, which has ties to prominent right-wing political figures, is touting its intention to embed cryptocurrency into loans, deposits and investment offerings.

The Securities and Exchange Commission appears to have finally acknowledged that tokenized securities are still … securities. For broker-dealers seeking to offer tokenized securities custody, the path forward is now visible.

Banking experts say World Liberty Trust's application for a trust charter with a regulatory body directed by the White House creates inherent conflicts of interest, while the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said the application will be considered on its merits.

World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture co-founded by President Trump, applied for a national trust charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The move comes as several prominent crypto companies have applied for and received conditional approval for trust charters since the beginning of the Trump administration.

Attackers stole over $340,000 in stablecoin from the Venezuela-focused app. The incident adds to recent troubles including frozen accounts at JPMorganChase.

The real value of stablecoins lies in their ability to provide instant and secure transfers of value. But, in a world where every company has a bespoke stablecoin, that promise begins to break down quickly.

Visa and Mastercard logged increases in holiday spending, an industry group called for increased BNPL regulation in the U.S., and more in this week's global payments roundup.

As stablecoins become an increasingly prominent feature of the financial landscape, Noelle Acheson gives us her top five trends to watch out for.

Banks are beginning to engage with decentralized financial infrastructure. But until lawmakers create a foundation for allowing legally recognized entities like LLCs and nonprofits to govern these networks, compliance burdens will hinder full adoption.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has made big changes in 2025, including cutting headcount, walking back Biden-era rules and guidance and resetting the agency's approach to  emerging technologies and crypto.

The cryptocurrency company has entered partnerships with big banks and payment giant Klarna in recent days. Coinbase exec Brett Tejpaul says the GENIUS Act is creating an opportunity to sell a broad range of digital asset technology.

Banks are unlikely to get the language of the GENIUS Act amended to better defend deposits. But Noelle Acheson explains how that doesn't mean they won't get what they want.

The Financial Services Forum, which represents the largest U.S. banks, formed a new 501(c)(4) advocacy group to amplify big banks' policy preferences, a move that could counter the crypto industry's growing political influence.

The de novo bank, which will serve participants in virtual currency markets, is putting the regulatory pieces in place for its planned 2026 launch. 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued a proposal setting application criteria for banks to issue stablecoins and sets a strict timeline under which banks may have their applications reviewed. The agency also reduced deposit insurance assessments for banks and slashed its 2026 proposed budget at a board meeting Tuesday morning.

As shoppers embrace new forms of AI, crypto and alternative financing, payment experts say financial institutions will need to reassess traditional payment products.