Lloyds Banking Group has completed a landmark digital finance transaction executing the first-ever Gilt purchase using tokenised deposits. The transaction, carried out in partnership with Archax and the Canton Network, marks the first time tokenised deposits have been issued on a public blockchain in the UK — and the first global use of tokenised sterling deposits. How the Transaction Worked The transaction involved Lloyds Bank PLC issuing tokenised deposits directly on the Canton Network, a privacy-en ...

DUBLIN, Jan. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StoneX Group Inc. (“StoneX”; NASDAQ: SNEX) today announced that StoneX Digital, a division of StoneX, has secured its Crypto-Asset Service Provider (“CASP”) licence under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (“MiCA”), granted by the Central Bank of Ireland. The authorisation represents a further step forward for StoneX as it continues to expand its regulated digital asset capabilities and serve an increasingly global institutional and corporate c ...

Coinbase’s Chief Policy Officer, Faryar Shirzad, issued a stark warning that the U.S. risks conceding dominance in digital finance to China over proposed stablecoin regulations. The alert comes as the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) announced it will permit interest payments on its digital yuan (e-CNY) starting January 1, 2026. The geopolitical issue centers on the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act. The current legislation, a key framework for regulating stabl ...

They accept deposits like banks, but unlike full-service lenders, they are not allowed to lend. Instead, customer deposits are invested in government securities, generating a modest interest spread and occasional treasury gains. Beyond this, payments banks earn fees and commissions from a wide range of activities: digital payments, remittances, micro-ATM and Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) transactions, debit cards, sale of third-party products such as insurance, gold loans and fixed deposits, busin ...

The Kingdom of Bhutan announced the world’s largest Bitcoin pledge to support its new economic zone called the Gelephu Mindfulness City. The South Asian country, with a population of just under 800,000, pledged up to 10,000 BTC, valued at $1 billion, to develop its new economic hub, according to an official press release on Dec. 17. Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck added that “every Bhutanese is a custodian, stakeholder, and beneficiary of GMC.” Notably, the country sold 512 BTC in mid-July ...

As investors stare down the start of 2026, one thing is clear: the playbook that worked over the last decade won't cut it in the next. Between stubborn inflation fears, a ballooning US national debt and relentless innovation in digital finance, the lines between Wall Street, Washington and Web3 are blurring fast. ...

Core Viewpoint - New Hampshire has approved a $100 million Bitcoin-backed municipal bond, marking the first instance of such a bond being collateralized by cryptocurrency, pending final approval from the governor and state Executive Council [1][2]. Group 1: Bond Structure and Mechanism - The proposed bond structure requires borrowers to post 160% of the bond's value in Bitcoin as collateral, ensuring a buffer against market fluctuations [2]. - A liquidation mechanism is in place to sell the cryptocurrency if its value falls below 130% of the bond's value, protecting bondholders from potential losses [3]. Group 2: Economic and Technological Implications - The bond aims to create a Bitcoin Economic Development Fund through transaction fees, which will be used to invest in business growth and financial innovation programs in New Hampshire [2]. - New Hampshire has positioned itself as a leader in digital finance by being the first state to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve and allowing the state treasurer to invest up to 5% of state funds in digital assets with a market capitalization of $500 billion or more [4][5]. Group 3: Collaboration and Future Outlook - The bond was developed in collaboration with digital asset companies like BitGo and Wave Digital Assets, indicating a partnership between public and private sectors to unlock the value of digital assets [6][7]. - The initiative is viewed as the opening of a new debt market, showcasing innovative financial solutions that could reshape investment opportunities [7].

Core Insights - Stablecoins are expected to transform remittances through integration rather than disruption, enhancing the global payments infrastructure instead of replacing it [1] - The current remittance system is characterized by high fees, unpredictable delivery times, and inefficiencies, particularly affecting smaller transactions and cash remittances [2][3][4] Group 1: Current Challenges in Remittances - Migrant workers face high fees for sending money home, which may increase with proposed remittance taxes [2] - Delivery times for remittances are often unpredictable, constrained by traditional banking hours, leading to delays in urgent transactions [2] - Cash remains the most trusted method for remittances due to its immediacy and universal understanding, but it is limited by geography and infrastructure [3] Group 2: Infrastructure Limitations - The infrastructure for cross-border money transfers has seen little change over decades, still relying on outdated systems with cut-off times and batch settlements [4] - Current remittance systems do not meet the fast-paced expectations set by modern communication and commerce, causing delays for families relying on timely transfers [4] Group 3: Potential of Stablecoins - Stablecoins present an opportunity to address structural issues in remittances by providing speed, programmability, and lower costs, especially for smaller transactions [5][6] - Transactions using stablecoins can settle in seconds at any time, bypassing traditional banking limitations, and can be integrated into existing trusted systems [6] - The effectiveness of stablecoins is contingent upon their integration into established payout networks and banking systems that have built trust over time [6]

SÃO PAULO--([BUSINESS WIRE](https://www.businesswire.com))--Nubank, one of the world's largest digital financial services platforms, announces its intention to obtain a banking license in Brazil. The inclusion of a banking institution within the conglomerate complies with the provisions of Joint Resolution No. 17, issued by the Central Bank and the National Monetary Council, which standardizes brand name usage for regulated institutions. With this decision, the Nubank brand and visual identity will remain u ...

Core Viewpoint - Major U.S. exchanges express concern over the SEC's consideration of exemptions that could accelerate the introduction of tokenized stocks into mainstream markets, fearing it may distort market structure and favor lightly regulated crypto firms [1][2]. Group 1: Concerns from Major Exchanges - The World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) submitted a letter to the SEC, highlighting alarm over platforms offering tokenized U.S. equities without the protections of traditional securities [2][5]. - Tokenized instruments are marketed as equivalents to listed shares but lack legal ownership rights, voting power, and clear channels for investor redress [2][3]. - The WFE warns that broad exemptions could lead to unregulated crypto platforms diverting trading activity from traditional markets, undermining price discovery and creating discrepancies between tokenized and underlying share prices [5][6]. Group 2: SEC's Consideration and Framework - SEC Chairman Paul Atkins is developing an "innovation exemption" framework to allow crypto firms to launch blockchain-based products under conditional relief while the SEC finalizes long-term digital-asset regulations [2][3]. - The SEC is reviewing proposals for tokenized stocks, bonds, and partnership interests, with major financial institutions seeking approval for these products [3][4]. - Tokenized stocks aim to represent traditional shares on a blockchain ledger, facilitating global trading, faster settlement, and fractional access [3][4]. Group 3: Market Structure and Systemic Risk - Some tokenized structures replicate a stock's economic performance without granting actual ownership, while others attempt to place registered equity directly on-chain [4]. - The WFE cautions that tokenized equities could disrupt clearinghouse systems designed to manage netting and collateral, potentially increasing systemic risk [6].