Disruptors

More regulation, more regulators and more regulatory uncertainty both increase the cost of and inhibit financial services and payments innovation.

More regulation, more regulators and more regulatory uncertainty both increase the cost of and inhibit financial services and payments innovation.

With millions of Alexa and Google Home devices now in use, first-mover banks are rapidly developing services to let customers control their finances using only their voice — even if there are still many kinks to work out.

The court decision regarding the “valid when made” doctrine moved us further away from creating a more effective and inclusive financial system.

Borrowing from the startup world and some popular TV shows, Citigroup is encouraging employees to pitch innovative ideas to a panel of senior execs who could give them the green light to start work.

The digital-currency startup, which markets software to banks, appears keen to signal that it wants to play by the rules.

The startup is betting that a venture offering safe storage of digital assets will entice billions from banks and other institutional investors.

The startup Intrinio lets algorithmic traders and banks pick the types of company and market data they want to use rather than pay a large monthly fee for a broad, terminal-based service.

Brian Behlendorf, leader of the Linux Foundation's effort to establish standards for blockchain, likens the invention of cryptocurrencies to the moon launch and says banks, open-source developers and others are working to make the underlying technology commercially viable.

As more startups turn to initial coin offerings to raise capital, financial institutions will seek reassurance that their blockchain and other fintech partners are aboveboard.

Banks around the world have spent the past few years preparing for competition from small, nimble technology startups. It turns out the real threat may be Jeff Bezos, according to McKinsey & Co. In its annual banking report.

Trading on Friday afternoon pushed the cryptocurrency's market capitalization above $100 billion for the first time ever.

With online retailers beginning to challenge the dominance of brick-and-mortar grocery stores, CRE loans to strip mails anchored by them look riskier.

The explosion of interest in digital assets this year, and the multiplying of their market value, are making cryptocurrency debit cards newly attractive. Banks could partner with intermediaries or issue the cards directly, but obstacles remain before that day can arrive.

When Apple or Google releases a new version of its operating system, banks are forced to respond by updating their mobile apps—running just to stay in place. Next month's release from Apple is especially challenging.

A San Francisco startup working with Swift plans to launch a network that would tie self-executing contracts to independent data sources.

Readers react to USAA teaming up with Amazon’s Alexa, how a new Wells Fargo’s scandal could affect arbitration rules, a digital identity startup’s ambitions, and more.

Startups and open-source software projects have raised $1.3 billion this year through initial coin offerings. The real boom may still lie ahead, fears of a bubble notwithstanding.

New entrants don’t pose a disruptive threat to the incumbent cohort of issuers, credit card networks and acquirers primarily because the incumbents — Visa, Mastercard and First Data — are prepared to compete in all segments of the market.

There is too much customer and regulatory inertia for banks’ business model to become irrelevant overnight. The real danger is banks will fade out of the picture over time.