Tag Archives: Banking license

Application and regulatory policies for crypto-friendly bank licenses, covering compliance for digital banks, crypto banks, and traditional banks' crypto businesses.

Two first crypto banks registered in Belarusian high-tech park: HTP digital banking license compliance path
Two first crypto banks registered in Belarusian high-tech park: HTP digital banking license compliance path

According to TASS, the High-Tech Park (HTP) in Belarus has registered the country's first two crypto banks. These institutions first obtained HTP residency, and then were certified by the National Bank for inclusion in the crypto bank register. This article analyzes this two-stage entry path and its implications for digital banking license applications.

29
June
Payward, the parent company of Kraken in the US, plans to apply for a banking license overseas: from Wyoming SPDI to a full-license bank.
Payward, the parent company of Kraken in the US, plans to apply for a banking license overseas: from Wyoming SPDI to a full-license bank.

Dave Ripley, co-CEO of Kraken's parent company Payward, stated at the 2026 Wyoming Blockchain Symposium that they are exploring becoming a full-fledged bank outside the United States, expanding their trading, banking, and asset management businesses. Payward is already operational.

21
June
The US OCC is pushing forward with the GENIUS Act's final rules for stablecoins: the final version is expected by November 2026, impacting issuer licenses.
The US OCC is pushing forward with the GENIUS Act's final rules for stablecoins: the final version is expected by November 2026, impacting issuer licenses.

On August 19, 2026, Jonathan Gould, Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), stated that GENIUS would be released by November 2026.

20
June
US | Standard Chartered Bullish on Bitcoin to Reach $10 by Year-End: Analysis of US Treasury Buyback Expansion and Crypto Compliance Environment
US | Standard Chartered Bullish on Bitcoin to Reach $10 by Year-End: Analysis of US Treasury Buyback Expansion and Crypto Compliance Environment

Geoff Kendrick, Head of Digital Asset Research at Standard Chartered Bank, maintained his year-end 2026 target price of $10 for Bitcoin, citing the US Treasury's increase in the cap on long-term Treasury bond repurchases from $20 billion to at least $40 billion. This liquidity environment will have a marginal impact on the funding costs of licensed stablecoin issuers and custodians, but will not change their hard compliance obligations such as capital, reserves, and anti-money laundering.

20
June
A Look at US Digital Asset Custody Licenses: Citigroup's Custody+ Launches Institutional Bitcoin Custody
A Look at US Digital Asset Custody Licenses: Citigroup's Custody+ Launches Institutional Bitcoin Custody

On August 18, 2026, Citi announced that it would offer Bitcoin custody to institutional clients through its Custody+ platform, bringing crypto assets under the same bank custody framework as traditional securities. Citi will manage its own keys and wallets. The service is expected to launch later in 2026 and is still subject to regulatory approvals from the Federal Reserve, the OCC, and other regulators. The SEC withdrew its SAB 121 application.

19
June
Spanish banks are shifting their blockchain recruitment focus to stablecoins and tokenization: EMI licenses and compliance talent development under MiCA regulation.
Spanish banks' digital asset strategy: Job positions, Qivalis program, and EMI authorization status should be verified separately.

CaixaBank's publicly disclosed job postings support its digital asset job needs; Qivalis and its member banks disclosed that the consortium is applying for DNB EMI authorization and plans to launch a euro stablecoin in the second half of 2026 after obtaining authorization, which cannot be described as having been licensed or issued.

18
June
The US OCC has conditionally approved World Liberty's national trust banking license: the Trump family's USD1 stablecoin is moving towards self-issued currency.
The US OCC has conditionally approved World Liberty's national trust banking license: the Trump family's USD1 stablecoin is moving towards self-issued currency.

On August 14, 2026, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued preliminary conditional approval for World Liberty Financial to establish the national trust bank, World Liberty Trust Company. This license does not accept deposits or make loans; it focuses on...

16
June
US Crypto Bank Licenses | Fed Master Account Access Dispute Escalates: Blockchain Association Supports Custodia's Lawsuit Against the Federal Reserve
US Crypto Bank Licenses | Fed Master Account Access Dispute Escalates: Blockchain Association Supports Custodia's Lawsuit Against the Federal Reserve

On August 13, the Blockchain Association filed an amicus brief supporting Custodia Bank's appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the Federal Reserve's refusal to grant it access to its master account. This case, which disputes the Federal Reserve's discretion regarding access to the payment system of a qualified state-chartered bank, raises concerns about the de-banking nature of Choke Point 2.0 and highlights the divergent paths to crypto banking licenses.

15
June
Russian banks tighten USDT review ahead of schedule: companies must verify the list of central bank digital currency exchange providers not yet online.
Russian banks tighten USDT review ahead of schedule: companies must verify the list of central bank digital currency exchange providers not yet online.

Some Russian banks serving import and export companies have begun requiring their corporate clients to explain the economic purpose of purchasing USDT and to confirm whether the counterparty is listed in the Central Bank Digital Currency Exchange Operator Register. However, this register will not be established until the new regulations take effect on September 1, 2026, making it practically impossible for companies to complete the verification process. This reflects the paradox of lagging stablecoin compliance infrastructure.

15
June
Itaú Unibanco's Tokenization License Compliance Path in Brazil: Latin America's Largest Bank Joins ANBIMA Capital Markets DLT Pilot Program
Itaú and OpenAssets participate in the ANBIMA tokenization pilot: First, let's look at the publicly verifiable scope of DLT testing.

As of August 13, 2026, publicly available materials reliably confirm two facts: ANBIMA's official website stated on May 19, 2026, that it is advancing Brazil's first coordinated tokenized asset...

13
June
The vote on the merger of Old Glory Bank SPAC in the United States has been postponed to August 14: A double dilemma facing the FDIC's 14% capital adequacy ratio Consent Order and the $50 million funding test.
The vote on the merger of Old Glory Bank SPAC in the United States has been postponed to August 14: A double dilemma facing the FDIC's 14% capital adequacy ratio Consent Order and the $50 million funding test.

Digital asset SPAC DAAQ has postponed its vote on the merger with Old Glory Bank to August 14. The bank's Tier 8 capital leverage ratio is below the 4% threshold, subject to an FDIC consent order requiring it to maintain a 14% ratio, and the minimum closing cash requirement of $5,000 million has not yet been met. The holding company has disclosed significant concerns about its continued operation, and Federal Reserve approval and Nasdaq listing approval remain pending.

02
June
USAT, a compliant stablecoin issued by Tether in the US, has been listed on the Celo network: a cross-chain compliance path under the GENIUS Act framework and licensed by Anchorage Digital Bank.
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30
June
EU MiCA Third Deadline Update: BNY Mellon's Belgian subsidiary joins the list, bringing the total number of licensed CASPs to 309.
EU MiCA Third Deadline Update: BNY Mellon's Belgian subsidiary joins the list, bringing the total number of licensed CASPs to 309.

ESMA released its third register update since the MiCA transition period ended, adding 15 CASPs to bring the total number of licensed institutions to 309. BNY Mellon's Belgian subsidiary, BNY SA/NV, was added, joining three German cooperative banks in promoting the entry of traditional financial institutions into the market.

28
June
AMINA, a Swiss FINMA-licensed crypto bank, hires Cantor to explore a public listing: a new capital market path for licensed digital asset banks globally.
AMINA, a Swiss FINMA-licensed crypto bank, hires Cantor to explore a public listing: a new capital market path for licensed digital asset banks globally.

AMINA, a Swiss FINMA-licensed crypto bank, has engaged Wall Street investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald to explore IPO or reverse merger listing paths, with a preference for a reverse acquisition by a digital asset treasury company. AMINA, formerly known as SEBA Bank, obtained its FINMA banking license in 2019, holding CHF 74.6 million in Tier 1 capital and having raised a total of US$2.45 million. A successful IPO would make it the world's first listed crypto bank with a full FINMA banking license, validating the capital market exit value of licensed digital asset banks.

28
June
The number of licensed CASPs under the EU's MiCA (Mixed Accounting and Compliance Authority) has increased to 309: BNY Mellon's Belgian subsidiary has joined the list, indicating that traditional banks are accelerating their entry into the crypto compliance system.
The number of licensed CASPs under the EU's MiCA (Mixed Accounting and Compliance Authority) has increased to 309: BNY Mellon's Belgian subsidiary has joined the list, indicating that traditional banks are accelerating their entry into the crypto compliance system.

ESMA completed its third CASP registry update since the MiCA transition period, adding 15 licensed institutions and bringing the total number of licensed CASPs in the EU to 309. The inclusion of BNY Mellon's Belgian subsidiary, BNY SA/NV, marks the entry of a global custodian banking giant into the MiCA licensing system. Germany and Denmark each added three institutions, leading this round. The long-term operational costs of licensing compliance have sparked industry discussion, with the CEO of Gate Europe warning that the MiCA licensing threshold could squeeze out smaller institutions.

27
June
Chen Zhi, founder of Cambodia's Prince Group, has been formally arrested; compliance due diligence warnings issued for all beneficiaries of licensed financial institutions.
Chen Zhi, founder of Cambodia's Prince Group, has been formally arrested; compliance due diligence warnings issued for all beneficiaries of licensed financial institutions.

Chen Zhi, founder of Cambodia's Prince Group, was formally arrested by Chinese prosecutors on July 6, 2026, on charges including copyright infringement, fraud, operating a casino, intentional injury, and illegal business operations. Prince Bank entered compulsory liquidation proceedings in January, and the Central Bank of Cambodia explicitly stated that no institution nationwide is authorized to conduct cryptocurrency transactions. This case serves as a systemic warning regarding the need for thorough due diligence on unsecured transactions (UBOs) by licensed financial institutions, the tracking of sanctions lists, and the monitoring of cross-border transactions.

27
June
EU MiCA Transition Period Ends: High Regulatory Barriers Drive Mergers and Acquisitions in the Crypto Industry
EU MiCA Transition Period Ends: High Regulatory Barriers Drive Mergers and Acquisitions in the Crypto Industry

欧盟MiCA过渡期于2026年7月1日正式终止，1,200余家加密服务商中仅约244家获得正式CASP授权，持牌比例不足20%。高监管门槛正在推动欧洲加密行业进入并购整合阶段：传统银行加速通过收购或合作进入加密服务赛道，中小型平台面临被收购或退出的二元选择。Sygnum Europe以列支敦士登CASP牌照切入B2B基础设施市场，已与25+家银行合作。

26
June
KB Kookmin Bank of South Korea integrates JPMorgan Kinexys blockchain for cross-border payments: a digital upgrade of traditional banking licenses.
KB Kookmin Bank of South Korea integrates JPMorgan Kinexys blockchain for cross-border payments: a digital upgrade of traditional banking licenses.

韩国最大银行KB国民银行将于2026年8月上线基于JPMorgan Kinexys的区块链跨境Payment服务，成为首家接入该网络的韩国金融机构。服务初期支持美元汇款至10个国家。Kinexys累计交易量超4万亿美元，日均70亿美元。本文分析该服务的合规架构、传统银行牌照数字化扩展路径及KB金融集团的区块链三角战略。

26
June
KB Kookmin Bank of South Korea integrates with JPMorgan's Kinexys: South Korea's first bank-grade blockchain cross-border settlement launched.
KB Kookmin Bank of South Korea integrates with JPMorgan's Kinexys: South Korea's first bank-grade blockchain cross-border settlement launched.

In August 2026, KB Kookmin Bank of South Korea will officially connect to JPMorgan Chase's Kinexys blockchain payment network, becoming the first financial institution in South Korea to use this infrastructure for cross-border corporate settlements. Initially covering 10 countries including South Korea, the United States, Singapore, and the Middle East, it will prioritize USD remittances and is expected to reduce trade settlement time from days to near real-time.

26
June
Tassat launches Project NENYA: Building GENIUS Act-compliant stablecoin reserve management infrastructure for small and medium-sized banks.
Tassat launches Project NENYA: Building GENIUS Act-compliant stablecoin reserve management infrastructure for small and medium-sized banks.

On July 23, 2026, Tassat Group launched Project NENYA, a smart reserve management engine: an infrastructure for optimizing stablecoin reserves in the post-GENIUS Act market, connecting issuers and small and medium-sized banks to dynamically optimize reserve distribution between cash deposits and tokenized HQLA. The platform has settled over $2.5 trillion in cumulative transactions and has been reviewed by the OCC, FDIC, and NYSDFS, with an expected launch in early 2027.

24
June

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