Relaxed regulatory oversight spurs bank-crypto activity

Since January, federal bank regulators have done an about-face on crypto guidance, inspiring banks to explore the space.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • April 30, 2025

Paze aims to pump up the volume with Fiserv

The digital wallet owned by seven banks has loaded 150 million customer cards onto the system. Now, it’s working with its processor ally to add more banks.

By Lynne Marek • April 29, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

M&A

President Donald Trump’s reelection was predicted to yield loosened regulation. But tariff volatility and economic uncertainty has thrown a wrench into an expected boom in mergers and acquisitions.

By Banking Dive staff

Nexo reenters US market

Co-founder Antoni Trenchev credited the regulatory shift under Trump for the firm’s reemergence in the U.S. Nexo’s exit was preceded by failed regulatory talks and followed by a $45 million SEC fine.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • April 28, 2025

Fed joins FDIC, OCC in withdrawing crypto-skeptical guidance

The guidance withdrawals “ensure the Board's expectations remain aligned with evolving risks and further support innovation in the banking system,” the Federal Reserve said Thursday.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • April 25, 2025

Coinbase considers applying for federal bank charter

Regulatory willingness to work with crypto seems to have inspired Coinbase, and reportedly others, to engrain themselves deeper into the traditional financial sector.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • April 23, 2025

Fiserv, Kansas to open fintech hub

The hub will open later this year in Overland Park, Kansas, and help Fiserv better serve Midwestern customers, the company said in a news release Monday.

By Patrick Cooley • April 23, 2025

Ramp reportedly angles for part of $700B US credit card program

The fintech is seeking to handle a piece of the SmartPay federal employee charge card program, assisted by its close ties to the Trump administration, ProPublica reported.

By Justin Bachman • April 23, 2025

Capital One readies for Discover integration work

With Discover, “we will be going back into the world of data centers” for “a number of years,” Capital One CEO Richard Fairbank said Tuesday.

By Caitlin Mullen • April 23, 2025

FedNow draws 1,300 financial firms

The instant payments service has attracted mostly small and mid-sized financial services firms as it inches up adoption by financial institutions.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 23, 2025

7 insights from FedNow® Service participants

Explore 7 key insights from financial institutions participating in the FedNow® Service.

April 21, 2025

Former HSBC exec talks career switch to fintech

HSBC was Episode Six’s second client. The exec who inked the partnership, Brian Muse-McKenney, saw so much promise in the fintech’s offerings that he jumped ship from the C-suite to join it.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • April 16, 2025

Klarna partners with Fiserv’s Clover

A recently signed deal will bring Klarna’s installment loans to Clover checkout at merchants across the U.S.

By Patrick Cooley • April 16, 2025

Block agrees to pay $40M New York penalty

The payments technology company agreed to pay the fine under a consent order to settle allegations related to lax oversight of its Cash App payments tool.

By Lynne Marek • April 16, 2025

NY AG sues MoneyLion, DailyPay

The state’s lawsuits seek to wind down the companies' earned wage access practices in New York.

By Justin Bachman • April 15, 2025

CFPB drops case against Comerica

The bureau dismissed the case without prejudice – meaning it could refile the lawsuit – setting it apart from other recent dismissals by the Russ Vought-led CFPB.

By Caitlin Mullen • April 14, 2025

DOJ scales back crypto enforcement

The Justice Department will stop prosecuting “unwitting” regulatory violations and focus its efforts on going after those who victimize crypto investors or use crypto to support illicit activities.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • April 9, 2025

Ripple to buy prime broker Hidden Road for $1.25B

“We are at an inflection point for the next phase of digital asset adoption … and the market is maturing to address the needs of traditional finance,” CEO Brad Garlinghouse said.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • April 8, 2025

Do growing fintechs need more federal regulation?

State regulators say they’re updating their rules and are best-suited to oversee licensed money transmitters — and a new U.S. payments charter isn’t needed. 

By Justin Bachman • April 8, 2025

FDIC eases crypto rules for banks

Banks can engage in crypto-related activities, but must still exercise proper caution, the agency said.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • April 1, 2025

Early Warning Services drops Zelle stand-alone app

Zelle users will need to turn to their online banking portals in light of EWS proceeding as planned with the shutdown of its Zelle app this month.

By Patrick Cooley • April 1, 2025

Plaid’s Brian Dammeir talks future of open banking

Open banking has long been an industry-led venture. The trendline won’t change even if the timeline does, Plaid’s head of payments and financial management said.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • March 26, 2025

Fintechs egg on ‘willingness to challenge norms,’ Bolt president says

Justin Grooms expects fintechs to keep pushing the payments industry forward with more competition for legacy players.

By Lynne Marek • March 25, 2025

Kraken to buy futures platform NinjaTrader for $1.5B

The tie-up marks the largest deal to date between the traditional finance and crypto sectors.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • March 24, 2025

Bank transfer fraud losses outpace crypto

The value of fraud losses last year was highest for bank transfers and payments, followed by cryptocurrency transactions, according to a report from the Federal Trade Commission released last week.

By Lynne Marek • March 21, 2025

SEC to drop Ripple case

“I'm heartened that we have paved the way for other industry players to see the value in not backing down ... We are now closing a chapter in crypto history,” CEO Brad Garlinghouse said.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • March 20, 2025