The crypto-focused subsidiary of Japan’s largest investment bank has joined the growing list of digital asset firms seeking a coveted banking charter from the U.S. Treasury Department. The subsidiary, Laser Digital, is based in Switzerland and owned by the Nomura Group, the Tokyo investment banking and brokerage giant. On Tuesday evening, Laser announced it had filed an application with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to form a national trust bank.  The bank, Laser Digital National Trust ...

Welcome @Velafi_global to Circle Payments Network (CPN)!VelaFi has joined CPN, enabling real-time, regulation-aligned settlement with payment stablecoins like @USDC and EURC across key global corridors.This unlocks faster, more efficient cross-border flows for:→ Enterprise payments→ Treasury management and liquidity operations→ Multi-currency settlementWith operations spanning Asia, the US, and Latin America, VelaFi connects its customers to compliance-driven, programmable global settlement through a single ...

Welcome to Market Catalyst. I'm Julie Hyman. We are 30 minutes into the US trading day. So, let's get to the three market catalyst we're watching this hour. First up, we'll have full market coverage ahead as the S&P 500 index hits 7,000 for the first time. Plus, we'll bring you the Fed day decision guide as the central bank makes its first rate announcement of 2026. And a battleground stock gets set to report. Palunteer due to release earnings on Monday. We'll give you the case for and against buying going ...

Mizuho upgrades Circle shares outlook citing Polymarket’s use of USDC for settlement https://t.co/0DdMgrAdHr ...

Core Viewpoint - Circle's stock (CRCL) experienced a 4% increase following an upgrade to neutral by Mizuho, driven by increased activity on the crypto prediction platform Polymarket, which is expected to boost the demand for Circle's stablecoin, USDC [1] Group 1: Market Activity and Projections - Mizuho's analyst Dan Dolev highlighted that Polymarket's trading volumes for 2026 are projected to reach around $50 billion, which is three times the volume of 2025, indicating a significant growth opportunity for USDC [2] - The current run-rate on Polymarket could potentially increase USDC's market cap by approximately 25% or more [2] - Dolev raised his forecasts for the average USDC in circulation for 2026 and 2027 by approximately 7% and 21% respectively, leading to revenue estimates increases of about 6% and 21% for those years [3] Group 2: Broader Trends and User Base - The rise of event-driven crypto trading is attributed to the diversification of prediction markets into areas such as sports, economics, and pop culture, which has attracted a larger user base [3] - Polymarket is noted for drawing non-crypto-native users into the crypto space through event trading, thereby increasing demand for USDC from outside the traditional DeFi audience [3] Group 3: Competitive Landscape and Price Target - Despite the positive outlook from Polymarket, Dolev refrained from issuing a bullish call, setting a price target of $77, indicating only modest upside from the current price just above $70 [4] - Adverse factors such as potential rate cuts, rising distribution costs, and competition from Tether (USDT) and other financial institutions launching their own stablecoins are seen as offsetting the potential benefits from Polymarket [4] - Circle's stock increase occurred amidst a general decline in crypto-related stocks, coinciding with the stagnant price of bitcoin, which remains below $90,000 [4]

Building the infrastructure behind internet-native financial systems requires trust, scale, and time.@jerallaire joined @DM_Rubenstein at @TheEconomicClub to discuss Circle’s work on stablecoin rails and the foundations of global money movement. https://t.co/QQa3gKZyYe ...

Fidelity Investments announced on Jan. 28 the launch of its first stablecoin, the Fidelity Digital Dollar (FIDD). The move positions the asset management giant as one of the first major traditional financial institutions to issue a dollar-backed token under the GENIUS Act, the federal stablecoin law signed in July 2025. FIDD will be issued by Fidelity Digital Assets, National Association, a federally chartered national trust bank, and will operate on the Ethereum blockchain with each token redeemable for ...

Core Viewpoint - Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE:CRCL) is a leading entity in the financial services sector, recognized for its innovative strategies in digital currency and blockchain technology, and has shown strong financial performance [1] Financial Performance - CRCL has a notable earnings surprise history, with an average surprise of 235.86% over the last two quarters, indicating consistent outperformance against earnings estimates [2][6] - In the most recent quarter, CRCL reported earnings of $0.64 per share, exceeding the expected $0.20 per share, resulting in a 220% surprise [3] - In the previous quarter, CRCL reported $1.02 per share against an expected $0.29, marking a 251.72% surprise [3] Market Outlook - Dan Dolev from Mizuho Securities has set a price target of $77 for CRCL, suggesting a potential price increase of approximately 10.06% from its current price of $69.96 [2][6] - CRCL's market capitalization is approximately $17.8 billion, with stock fluctuations between a low of $67.50 and a high of $70.54, reflecting a decrease of 1.33% or $0.94 [5] Industry Context - The crypto industry is currently facing challenges, particularly in Washington, with delays in legislative processes impacting the sector [4] - Despite these challenges, CRCL is well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak due to its strong financial performance and innovative approach [4][6] Upcoming Events - CRCL is scheduled to announce its financial results for the fourth quarter and the full fiscal year of 2025 on February 25, 2026, and will host a live audio webcast to discuss these outcomes [5]

Fidelity Investments will expand its digital asset offerings with plans to launch its own U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin, the Fidelity Digital Dollar (FIDD), the firm said in a press release. The new token will be available to retail and institutional investors "in the coming weeks" and run on the Ethereum blockchain. The stablecoin will be issued through Fidelity Digital Assets, the firm's crypto-focused subsidiary and be fully backed by U.S. dollars and high-quality cash equivalents. “As a leading ass ...

Core Viewpoint - Laser Digital, a spinoff from Nomura, has applied for a national trust bank charter to enhance its digital asset services and streamline regulatory compliance [1][2]. Group 1: Company Developments - Laser Digital plans to offer custody of digital assets and U.S. government securities, as well as spot trading and staking, but will not engage in direct deposits or trade securities [2]. - The application for the national trust bank charter aims to eliminate the need for state-by-state custody licenses, reflecting the company's strategic move to scale its operations [2]. - Steve Ashley, co-founder of Laser Digital, emphasized that the application aligns with the company's global ambitions and the importance of operating under stringent regulatory standards in the U.S. financial market [5]. Group 2: Industry Trends - The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has seen a significant increase in charter applications, with 18 de novo applications filed in 2025, indicating a growing interest among nonbank entities [2]. - The OCC conditionally approved national trust banking charters for five digital-asset firms in December, showcasing a trend towards regulatory acceptance in the digital asset space [3]. - Industry experts predict that the OCC will receive 25 novel charter applications in 2026, highlighting the evolving landscape of banking and the challenges to traditional banking franchise value [6].