Banking Industry Blockchain Cryptocurrencies Digital Currency Stablecoins

Episode 283 - Banking on Stablecoins, with Scott Southall and Will Artingstall, Citi

In this episode, Yvette Bohanan and Ashley Lannquist welcome Scott Southall, Head of BaaS, and Will Artingstall, Head of Digital Assets Payments and e-Commerce at Citi, to dig into what recent stablecoin regulatory changes mean for the future of banking, how U.S. institutions are mobilizing behind digital dollars, why clients are asking about new forms of money, and what’s next as stablecoins potentially go mainstream in the American financial system.

Industry

Fireblocks and Zepz Join Forces to Scale Stablecoin Remittance Adoption for WorldRemit and Sendwave

PR Newswire

“Zepz, the global payments group behind WorldRemit and Sendwave, will leverage Fireblocks, the enterprise platform securing more than $4 trillion in digital asset transfers annually, to help scale stablecoin-powered remittances to consumers at scale. Serving more than 9 million users across 130 countries, WorldRemit and Sendwave will use Fireblocks to enable near-instant, lower-cost cross-border payments.”

Industry

SUNRATE Launches Payment Solution on Walmart Marketplace to Simplify Global Collections for E-Commerce Sellers

PR Newswire

“SUNRATE, the global payment and treasury management platform, announced that international e-commerce sellers can collect payments from Walmart Marketplace directly into their SUNRATE Accounts. Through this partnership, global sellers can access a streamlined collection service powered by SUNRATE’s decade of expertise in cross-border payments. Key benefits include: Cost Efficiency with FX Protection & Faster Onboarding.”

Companies

Enhancing Cross-Border Payments: State of Play and Way Forward

BIS

“The G20 Roadmap for enhancing cross-border payments has created significant momentum. Most international policy actions are completed, providing a solid foundation for addressing persistent cross-border payment challenges and fostering a more inclusive global payments ecosystem. However, it is unlikely that the end-2027 targets envisaged by the G20 will be achieved on time, and improvements in […]

Tags: Bank for International Settlements

Companies

Ant International and HSBC Test New Cross-Border Payments Solution Using Tokenised Deposits on Swift’s Network and Powered by ISO 20022

Yahoo Finance-Business Wire

“Ant International, HSBC and Swift have completed a successful Proof of Concept (POC) for the cross-border transfer of tokenised deposits using ISO 20022 standards. The initiative leverages Swift’s global messaging network and HSBC’s recently launched Tokenised Deposit Service, combined with Ant International’s blockchain technology.”

Tags: Ant International HSBC Swift

Blockchain CBDC Cryptocurrencies Digital Currency Stablecoins

Episode 282 - Why You Need a Stablecoin Strategy, with Ran Goldi, Fireblocks

In this episode, Yvette Bohanan welcomes back Ran ‘Goldi' Goldshtein, Senior VP of Payments and Networks at Fireblocks to provide his perspective on the evolution of the digital currency space. Tune in as they break down a stablecoin transaction, discuss the current state and adoption of blockchain technology, and review various use cases for stablecoins. They define terms like TradFi, Defi, and smart contracts, and explore the impact of tokenized deposits and AI on the digital currency landscape.

Companies

UnionPay Taps Worldpay to Boost Cross-Border Payments

IBS Intelligence

UnionPay International has extended its decade-long partnership with Worldpay, introducing UnionPay 3D Secure (3DS) and ExpressPay capabilities to expand global online acceptance for UnionPay cards. The enhancement will allow UnionPay cardholders to make eCommerce transactions across major markets, including the US, UK, and Europe, as well as sectors such as airlines, retail, and hospitality.

Tags: UnionPay International Worldpay

Card Acceptance Credit Cards Interchange Mastercard Visa

Episode 281 - Fanning the Flames - Unpacking the Latest Proposed Settlement of the Payment Card Interchange Litigation

In this episode, Bryan Derman, Russ Jones, and Chris Uriarte share their first-take analysis of last week’s proposed settlement of the long-running antitrust litigation between Visa/Mastercard and a group of merchants regarding Payment Card Interchange and Merchant Discounts. The discussion covers the basic parameters of the settlement proposal and then investigates some of the possible reactions by merchants, issuers, and networks were the settlement to be approved the by judge.

Companies

dLocal Joins Circle Payments Network to Power Stablecoin Payouts Across Emerging Markets

dLocal

“dLocal has integrated with Circle Payments Network operated by Circle Technology Services, LLC, an affiliate of Circle Internet Group, Inc., to enable seamless payouts across emerging markets. Powered by Circle’s payment stablecoins, USDC and EURC, CPN connects financial institutions to enable real-time settlement of cross-border payments.”

Tags: dLocal

Global

Brazil Eyes Taxing Crypto for Cross-Border Payments, Sources Say

Reuters

“Brazil is looking at taxing the use of cryptocurrencies for international payments, two officials with direct knowledge of the discussions told Reuters, closing a loophole in the country’s usual levy on foreign-exchange transactions. One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity about the confidential talks, said the Finance Ministry is looking at expanding […]

Tags: Brazil

Companies

Alibaba Taps JPMorgan To Build Stablecoin-Like Payments System for Its $35B Commerce Network

Yahoo Finance

“Alibaba plans to launch a tokenized global payment network by December. The system uses a stablecoin-like model and is being developed with JPMorgan’s tokenization technology. The network is designed to streamline cross-border B2B payments using tokenized fiat and AI-powered smart contracts.”

Tags: Alibaba

Companies

UBS and Ant International Partner on Blockchain-Based Real-Time Cross-Border Payments Settlement and Liquidity Management

Business Wire

“UBS has entered a strategic partnership with Ant International to explore innovations in blockchain-based tokenised deposits to support Ant International’s global payments settlement and liquidity management. Both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at UBS’s flagship office in Singapore.”

Tags: Ant International

Industry

Stablecoins Surpass Bitcoin as Go‑To Cryptocurrency for Illicit Transactions

Bitget

“While stablecoins aim to keep their value steady by being tied to fiat currencies, their expanding presence in digital finance has made them central to the movement of funds within blockchain networks. They play a vital role in decentralized finance (DeFi), aid cross-border payments, and help sustain liquidity. Yet, as their circulation widens, these same […]

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Episode 279 - Fanning the Flames - Money 20/20 2025 Recap

Chris Uriarte and Drew Edmond are back from Money 20/20 and join Yvette Bohanan on this episode to provide their insights on the prevailing themes and standout announcements.  Tune in to also hear tips for navigating the conference and overall thoughts on the evolution of Money 20/20 and other industry events.

Blockchain Cross-border Payments Digital Currency Interoperability Stablecoins

Episode 278 - From Prefunding to Flow: Rethinking Global Settlement, with Mouloukou Sanoh, MANSA

In this episode, Yvette Bohanan and Ashley Lannquist welcome Mouloukou Sanoh, CEO and Co-Founder of MANSA, to explore liquidity challenges in cross-border payments, the transformative potential of stablecoins in emerging markets, and the strategic role of fintechs and banks in evolving global payment infrastructures.