The ECB has begun work to map how a digital euro would operate on existing ATMs and payment terminals, with a focus on enabling offline transactions and ensuring interoperability.
The Bank of Korea and nine commercial banks have started live trials of deposit tokens, testing subsidy disbursements and peer-to-peer transfers. The pilot aims to evaluate operational performance and integration with existing payment rails.
Ripple's president told investors on Mar 17, 2026 that Fortune 500 companies are poised to adopt XRP as a corporate liquidity "gold standard," noting roughly 60% of major tech firms are already experimenting with blockchain. He framed current trials as signs of a larger adoption wave once integration and regulatory hurdles are cleared.
South Korean regulators and major credit card issuers agreed to share data and monitor overseas card transactions to detect criminal activity tied to crypto. The move aims to close off illicit on‑ and off‑ramps while raising compliance and privacy questions.
Ripple is moving to offer custody, payments and brokerage services in Brazil as it prepares to seek approval from the central bank, signalling a push into digital asset management and tokenization. The move could accelerate institutional on‑ramp and XRP utility in Latin America.
Mastercard said Tuesday it will acquire stablecoin payments infrastructure provider BVNK in a deal valued at up to $1.8 billion, signaling a strategic push into tokenized payments.
PayPal expanded its dollar-backed PYUSD stablecoin into 70 new markets, targeting lower cross-border fees and faster merchant settlement. The rollout widens PayPal's payments rails and could alter remittance and payout dynamics for merchants.
Singapore’s dtcpay raised $10 million in a Series A led by Vertex Ventures and secured a Luxembourg EMI license to accelerate its regulated stablecoin payment services in Europe and beyond. The move aims to boost merchant adoption and cross-border payment rails.
Ripple has teamed up with i-payout to speed cross-border payouts into the U.S. and Canada using its digital asset-powered payments network. The move aims to boost liquidity and settlement times for remitters and payout providers.
Steak ‘n Shake is expanding Bitcoin use across payments, employee bonuses, and its corporate treasury, saying the strategy is lifting same-store sales and reshaping its financial model.