Crypto, ESG and office returns: Banks show when they would — and would not — rather be first

As Morgan Stanley and BNY Mellon look to one-up each other on digital assets, JPMorgan and Bank of America find themselves in opposing camps over how they will host summer internships.

By Dan Ennis • March 18, 2021

Brian Brooks, former OCC acting chief, joins blockchain startup

The new role places Brooks in a position where he can continue his push for the inclusion of blockchain and cryptocurrency in the financial sector, actions he took during his tenure at the helm of the bank regulator.

By Anna Hrushka • March 15, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Compliance in banking

A trio of fintech execs share their thoughts on partnerships with banks. This collection also explores the most pressing issues faced by three banks — TD, Capital One and Citi — heavily invested in compliance.

By Banking Dive staff

Colorado credit union spinoff has ambitions beyond pot banking

Partner Colorado CEO Sundie Seefried plans to leave her post in July to lead a new entity that will launch lending products for cannabis companies. She's also eyeing the growing crypto and psychedelic mushroom space.

By Anna Hrushka • Updated June 23, 2021

Goldman crypto trading desk relaunch portends softer industry stance on Bitcoin

The bank follows BNY Mellon and JPMorgan in greater crypto acceptance, in a reversal from a May report in which Goldman called Bitcoin an "unsuitable investment." Citi this week said the currency is at a "tipping point."

By Dan Ennis • March 3, 2021

Tether, crypto exchange Bitfinex to pay $18.5M to settle NY probe

Tether will give officials quarterly reports on its reserves and end trading with the state's residents in an agreement that ends a two-year investigation into allegations it hid the loss of $850 million in client and corporate money.

By Dan Ennis • Feb. 24, 2021

Virginia-based bank provides Bitcoin access at ATMs

Blue Ridge Bank's announcement comes as larger players such as BNY Mellon and Mastercard are showing greater acceptance of digital assets. Bitcoin traded above $50,000 for the first time Tuesday.

By Anna Hrushka • Feb. 12, 2021

BNY Mellon commits to holding, transferring and issuing crypto

The New York-based bank said Thursday it is developing a client-facing prototype for a multi-asset digital custody and administration platform set to roll out this year.

By Dan Ennis • Feb. 11, 2021

OCC conditionally approves second crypto firm for trust charter

Seattle-based Protego intends to provide custody services for its clients' digital assets — and, eventually, a client-to-client lending and trading platform. The company has 18 months to meet the regulator's terms.

By Dan Ennis • Feb. 8, 2021

Gemini launches crypto-based savings product offering up to 7.4% yield

Gemini said it can pay such high rates because it lends to institutional borrowers through a partner, but that puts it largely outside the regulatory sphere — leaving customers assuming considerably more risk.

By Dan Ennis • Feb. 3, 2021

4 banking trends to watch in 2021

Banking Dive expects M&A to pivot toward niches, race to be a continuing focus of ESG, and crypto to have a make-or-break year in 2021.

By Dan Ennis , Anna Hrushka • Jan. 20, 2021

Crypto firm Anchorage receives trust bank charter from OCC

The company must maintain $7 million in Tier 1 capital and must set aside at least $3 million in liquidity, or the equivalent of 180 days’ worth of operating expenses, under its agreement with the regulator.

By Dan Ennis • Jan. 14, 2021

Banks can use stablecoins, blockchains for payments, OCC says

The move follows a letter the agency issued in July clarifying national banks are allowed to provide cryptocurrency custody services, and hold unique cryptographic "keys" associated with cryptocurrency on behalf of customers.

By Anna Hrushka • Jan. 5, 2021

SEC sues Ripple, top execs over sale of XRP cryptocurrency

Ripple executives accused the regulator of "picking virtual currency winners and losers." XRP lost 60% of its value in the week after the suit, which one Twitter user called a "kill shot."

By Anna Hrushka • Updated March 5, 2021

Crypto firm Paxos gets OCC's conditional approval for trust charter

In contrast to Anchorage and Protego Trust Co., which are converting their state trust charters to national ones, Paxos will maintain its New York state charter and additionally seek a federal one.

By Anna Hrushka • Updated April 27, 2021

Visa, crypto startup BlockFi team up on card giving 1.5% back in Bitcoin

The announcement comes a day after the currency hit a record value, which may boost the intrigue of potential users. The move also may reflect a softening stance toward crypto by the card network.

By Dan Ennis • Dec. 2, 2020

Facebook-led digital currency, renamed Diem, could launch in January

"We like the connotation of it kind of being a new day for the project," said the group's CEO, Stuart Levey, referring to the moniker's use of the Latin word for "day."

By Anna Hrushka • Updated Dec. 1, 2020

JPMorgan levels up on blockchain effort

A large international client the bank won't name began using JPM Coin this week. JPMorgan also rebranded its 400-bank cross-border payment settlement network.

By Dan Ennis • Oct. 29, 2020

PayPal launches crypto payment platform

The payments company will convert consumers' Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin holdings into fiat currencies when they check out. That cuts the risk merchants assume from any volatility in cryptos' value.

By Dan Ennis • Updated March 30, 2021

Crypto exchange Kraken gets Wyoming banking license

The company pulled out of New York in 2015, after executives saw the state's BitLicense as too invasive.

By Ted Jackson • Sept. 21, 2020

ConsenSys acquires JPMorgan blockchain platform Quorum

The nation's largest bank reportedly had been considering spinning off Quorum for two years. A ConsenSys exec said the platform might more easily attract a wider range of financial institutions as users if it's not owned by a bank.

By Dan Ennis • Aug. 26, 2020

Tech hurdle will slow banks' approach to crypto custody services

"Security and technology is the foundation of making this work," Kudelski Security's Scott Carlson said. "If you don't get that right, the entire system could collapse."

By Anna Hrushka • Aug. 4, 2020

Banks can provide crypto custody service, OCC says

"This opinion clarifies that banks can continue satisfying their customers' needs for safeguarding their most valuable assets, which today for tens of millions of Americans includes cryptocurrency," the OCC's Brian Brooks said.

By Anna Hrushka • July 23, 2020

Fraud caused collapse of crypto exchange Quadriga, regulator says

About 76,000 customers claim they were left without access to $163 million since the exchange went offline last year. Their lawyers asked the Mounties to exhume founder Gerald Cotten's body to prove he was dead.

By Dan Ennis • June 12, 2020

Goldman takes a swipe at crypto, but maybe they're better off apart

As its cash management business booms, the investment bank calls bitcoin's volatility "unsuitable" for its clients. Meanwhile, the crypto exchange Gemini finds a suitor in Samsung.

By Dan Ennis • May 28, 2020

JPMorgan's Gemini, Coinbase play is a crypto industry 'roadmap,' analyst says

While concerns over fraud and money laundering have made banks hesitant to link up with crypto firms, the regulatory gains Gemini and Coinbase have made could signal those risks are diminishing.

By Anna Hrushka • May 15, 2020