banks

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) released a report indicating that cryptocurrency exchanges are gradually providing bank-like services, such as lending and earn products, but lack the regulation and deposit protection found in traditional financial systems, posing systemic risks.The report states that these high-yield products are essentially closer to "unsecured loans," where user assets are often used by the platform for high-risk operations such as lending, trading, or market making, and users only hold a creditor position against the platform. If the platform encounters problems, users will be directly exposed to repayment risks. The BIS also noted that leading cryptocurrency platforms have evolved from single exchanges into "multi-functional intermediaries," integrating the functions of banks, brokerages, and exchanges, but lacking transparency and risk isolation mechanisms. The previous collapses of Celsius Network and FTX are typical cases of such structural risks. Additionally, the report mentioned that the flash crash in the cryptocurrency market in October 2025 triggered approximately $19 billion in forced liquidations, highlighting the chain reaction risks under high leverage and opaque structures.

According to Jinshi reports, Federal Reserve Governor Waller stated that he does not believe the traditional gradual development approach operated by the Federal Reserve's regional banks can meet the demands of the current situation.

The custodian service provider Fireblocks will be responsible for the issuance and distribution of the euro stablecoin by the Qivalis consortium, which is expected to launch in the second half of 2026, regulated by the Dutch central bank and in compliance with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR).Qivalis members include 12 European banks such as BBVA, BNP Paribas, ING, and UniCredit. Reports indicate that the current stablecoin market size is approximately $305 billion, of which about 99% are dollar stablecoins, and the euro stablecoin market size is around $650 million. Qivalis plans to enhance the application of euro stablecoins in institutional scenarios with compliant products.

According to Cointelegraph, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has urged banks to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses due to heightened regulatory concerns arising from the spread of the Mythos AI model under Anthropic in the Asia region.

Cuy Sheffield, the head of Visa's crypto business, stated that two American banks, Lead Bank and Cross River, have settled transactions using USDC on Solana.

According to market news, Anthropic plans to provide access to "Mythos" to UK banks within the next week.

According to Decrypt, U.S. Senator Warren recently expressed concerns about Musk's planned payment platform X Money, stating that it could pose risks to consumer protection, national security, and the stability of the financial system.Warren pointed out that after acquiring and reshaping X, Musk is pushing it to become a "super app" that covers "all aspects of users' financial lives," potentially even replacing the traditional banking system. She questioned the performance of the X platform in terms of security and content governance, believing that this undermines its credibility in entering the consumer finance sector.Additionally, Warren criticized the current regulatory environment for becoming more lenient, including the "GENIUS Act" promoted by the Trump administration, which provides a "special pathway" for private companies to issue stablecoins, potentially weakening necessary regulatory constraints.

S&P Global Market Intelligence released a report indicating that the stablecoin market size has surpassed $316 billion, but the overall strategic layout of the banking industry is still in its early stages.Among 100 banks surveyed in Q1 2026, only 7% are developing relevant frameworks, and no institutions have launched pilot programs. Banks are primarily concerned about deposit outflows, intensified competition, and unclear impacts on revenue. It is expected that large banks will focus on tokenized deposits, while small and medium-sized banks will emphasize fiat currency inflows and outflows, and both will require significant upgrades to their existing systems.

According to market news, six Swiss banks, including Switzerland's largest bank UBS, plan to test a digital version of the Swiss franc in 2026 to explore its practical applications in real banking and financial scenarios.

As USDC's trading volume continues to soar in South Korea, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire plans to visit Korea next week to meet with executives from several major commercial banks and leading cryptocurrency exchanges to discuss the application scenarios of stablecoins in Korea, international payment cooperation, and plans for a stablecoin based on the Korean won.On the banking side, Allaire intends to hold "continuous meetings" with leaders from market-leading institutions such as KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, and Hana Bank. Notably, KB Kookmin Bank met with Circle last June and has completed a feasibility concept test using the Circle Mint platform. On the trading platform side, Allaire also plans to meet with executives from Upbit operator Dunamu, as well as Bithumb, Coinone, and other trading platforms to discuss expanding USDC adoption, the Korean payment ecosystem, and measures to support cross-chain technology.

According to Solid Intel, the central banks of France and South Korea are collaborating on a framework for tokenized cross-border payments and digital assets.

Recently, the State Taxation Administration and the National Financial Regulatory Administration of China jointly issued a notice on "Further Deepening and Standardizing 'Bank-Tax Interaction' Work," which pointed out the need to deepen the application of bank-tax data.Standardize the content and methods of providing bank-tax data to further resolve the information asymmetry issue between banks, taxes, and enterprises. Encourage both banks and tax authorities in various regions to utilize technologies such as blockchain and privacy computing to legally and compliantly innovate the "bank-tax interaction" model. Banks will continue to optimize credit services, increase financing service supply for honest tax-paying enterprises, and continuously monitor the effectiveness of the "bank-tax interaction" loan model to improve risk management levels.

According to Xinhua News Agency, the Office of the Central Anti-Corruption Coordination Group for International Fugitive Pursuit and Cross-Border Corruption Governance held a meeting to launch the "Sky Net 2026" operation. In this operation, the National Supervisory Commission will lead a special action for recovering losses from overseas pursuit of duty-related crimes, the Ministry of Public Security will carry out the "Fox Hunt" special operation, the People's Bank of China, in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Security, will conduct a special action to prevent and combat the use of offshore companies and underground banks to transfer stolen funds abroad, and the Central Organization Department, together with the Ministry of Public Security and the National Immigration Administration, will manage the positions of "naked officials" and address issues related to public officials violating regulations when traveling abroad.

The World Gold Council released the February central bank gold purchase report this week, showing that central banks net bought 19 tons of gold in February 2026. Although this is still below the monthly average of 26 tons reported for 2025, it represents an increase compared to the net purchase of 5 tons in January 2026.The World Gold Council stated that the situation in February seems to indicate a rebound in central bank gold purchases after a quiet January, highlighting the recognition and commitment of central banks to gold as a reserve asset. Additionally, the report shows that some central banks have maintained a record of continuous net gold purchases, accumulating 44 tons from November 2024 to February 2026, with the Czech Republic reporting net purchases for the 36th consecutive month. China has increased its gold holdings for the 16th consecutive month.Goldman Sachs' research report at the end of March pointed out that supported by the ongoing gold purchases by central banks and the expectation that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates twice this year, the medium-term outlook for gold remains solid, with gold prices expected to rise to $5,400 per ounce by the end of the year. UBS also projected at the end of March that the target price for gold in early 2027 will be $5,900 per ounce.

According to a report by Jinshi Data, the General Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has issued a notice on launching a special action to empower the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through inclusive computing power, mentioning the innovative service model of computing power.Improve the SME section of the China Computing Power Platform, the computing resource docking section of the China SME Service Network, and the national computing internet service node section (hereinafter collectively referred to as the SME platform section), to promote the precise matching of SME demand and computing resource supply, and implement flexible payment models such as "card time," "calculated time," and Token billing.Explore innovative businesses such as "computing power banks" and "computing power supermarkets," supporting SMEs to deposit idle computing resources and achieve flexible use through cross-regional and cross-cycle scheduling. Implement an artificial intelligence SME entrepreneurship support plan, encouraging local relevant departments to subsidize "computing power vouchers," "storage vouchers," and "transportation vouchers" to SMEs that meet industrial orientation through the SME platform section, simplifying the acquisition and usage process.

According to market news, Spain's CaixaBank has obtained authorization as a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the EU MiCA regulation, becoming the sixth licensed bank in the country to offer customers services for the custody, buying, and transferring of crypto assets.The six authorized institutions in order are BBVA, Openbank (under the Santander Group), Cecabank, Renta 4 Banco, Kutxabank, and CaixaBank. Among them, BBVA was the first to be approved in 2025 and officially launched Bitcoin and Ethereum buying and custody services in July of the same year. The MiCA authorization serves as a "regulatory passport" across the EU, allowing licensed institutions to operate legally without having to apply country by country. The transition period in Spain will end on June 30, 2026, at which point unauthorized institutions will not be allowed to provide crypto asset services.

According to the Financial Times, foreign central banks have reduced their holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds to the lowest level since 2012 in order to support their domestic economies and currencies during the war in Iran.Since February 25, the value of Treasury bonds held in custody at the New York Federal Reserve Bank by official institutions has decreased by $82 billion. Some central banks have intervened in the foreign exchange market to support their domestic currencies. Such interventions typically involve selling dollars to respond to crises. Since February 27, the Turkish central bank alone has sold $22 billion worth of foreign government bonds.Analysis indicates that supply shocks have put immense pressure on global central banks.

Insiders revealed on Tuesday that SpaceX is collaborating with at least 21 banks to prepare for its blockbuster IPO, one of the largest underwriting groups in recent years. This IPO is internally codenamed "Apex," expected to take place in June, with a valuation reaching $1.75 trillion, poised to become one of the most anticipated stock market debuts on Wall Street. Insiders stated that Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup are serving as active bookrunners, meaning they are the lead banks managing this transaction.They added that another 16 banks have signed on to take smaller roles. About half of these banks had not been previously reported. The size of the underwriting group highlights the scale and complexity of the proposed issuance plan.

According to Jinshi News, Warren Buffett warned that as the connections between the banking system and non-bank institutions become increasingly tight, he has begun to see signs of vulnerability in the financial system.He stated that the stability of the financial system should be the Federal Reserve's top priority and pointed out that banks like JPMorgan Chase are key hubs for the economy, handling trillions of dollars in funds every day. "They influence each other, and if one has a problem, it could transmit to other institutions," Buffett said during an interview with CNBC on Tuesday.After a series of recent explosions in the credit market raised concerns about the balance sheet risks of banks and private credit funds, investor sentiment has been impacted. Buffett indicated that once market panic spreads, many investors may quickly withdraw.

Stijn Vander Straeten, CEO of Crypto Finance under Deutsche Börse, stated that traditional banks are at least 5 years behind crypto-native platforms in terms of DeFi innovation. Large institutions typically wait for regulatory frameworks to be clarified before entering related markets, so the full adoption of DeFi by banks may still take 5 to 10 years.He pointed out that crypto platforms have already offered features such as weekend trading and instant settlement, while the traditional financial system is still constrained by outdated infrastructure like T+2 settlement.