The dollar-backed digital assets have to clear many hurdles before they find a place in the future of finance, speakers at a Columbia University event said.

The crypto company's x402 Foundation will standardize transactions, making the company one of many technology firms working on standards for AI-powered commerce.

In its recently passed bill, Congress prohibited stablecoin issuers from offering interest, but left the door open to "rewards" from exchanges. That provision could drive adoption of stablecoins and compete for deposits, but experts say the technology would have a long way to go.

By encoding and decentralizing on-chain identity management, soulbound tokens enable institutions to streamline compliance while introducing a base for new services.

The digital asset tech provider, which recently raised $140 million, will power Morgan Stanley's E*Trade crypto offerings early next year.

There's no designated lender of last resort for nonbank stablecoin issuers in either the recently-passed stablecoin bill or the crypto market structure bill being considered, which experts say could mean bailouts down the road.

The Bank of England may cap ownership, drawing ire from crypto groups that claim that will hinder innovation.

Starting Tuesday, the Spanish bank is allowing retail clients in Germany to trade Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, Polygon and Cardano. Openbank will expand the number of available tokens over the coming months. 

The payment company has made a series of moves to bolster its stablecoin and other coins to build a market for digital assets. Its Links feature adds to the strategy.

The world's largest stablecoin issuer is preparing to launch USAT, its U.S.-regulated, dollar-backed stablecoin, by the end of the year, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino told reporters at an event in New York. Bo Hines was also named CEO of USAT.

Pious claims about the importance of free data are a smoke screen. What the fintech industry really wants is to stick banks with the bill for organizing, securing and delivering customer data on their behalf.

Noelle Acheson points out that crypto custody is about more than incorporating new assets into an established service; it's about reshaping how we see standard financial concepts and using the resulting innovations to rethink client relationships.

The U.K.-based super app expanded its partnership with Google Cloud as it looks to advance account-to-account payments; Global Payments launches Genius platform in the U.K.; and more in this week's global payments roundup.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced that Stephen Lybarger will assume the role of Senior Deputy Comptroller for Chartering and Will Giles will be Principal Deputy Chief Counsel amid a surge in fintech and crypto trust charter applications.

The Canadian institution plans a U.S. tokenized deposit, contending that it can help banks keep and grow deposits amid threats from fintech-issued cryptocurrency. Founder and President David Taylor is encouraging others to do the same.

The superregional bank, which pulled the plug on bitcoin custody services in 2022, is reintroducing those services following the demise of an unfavorable SEC rule.

The arguments banking trade groups are raising against granting charters to digital asset firms are the same scare tactics they used against money market funds, online brokers and fintech lenders.

BNPL lender Klarna officially revived its highly anticipated IPO, and cryptocurrency exchange Gemini also announced plans for a public offering. The offerings follow Chime and Circle's blockbuster IPOs in June.

Noelle Acheson points out that, while banks are unlikely to issue stablecoins, the related businesses they are likely to end up offering could set the stage for a transformation of their relationship with their clients.