Starting Simple, Small and with Purpose

Starting Simple, Small and with Purpose

Glen speaks with the CU De Novo Collective’s Denise Wymore about the grassroots groundswell of interest in starting new credit unions, overcoming the challenges of progressing from concept to market, and why a voice for CU creation is needed to counter a one-way trend. Also- Fiserv’s stablecoin play, The FTA’s attempt to preserve open banking, and how AI regulation became a budget issue.         

A Stroke of Genius? Regulation Comes Full Circle

A Stroke of Genius? Regulation Comes Full Circle

Last week the Genius Act, a bill creating a regulatory framework for stablecoins, passed the Senate by a 68-30 vote- a remarkable level of bipartisanship in this day and age. The legislation was enthusiastically received by banking as well as crypto groups- the latter reaction perhaps shocking to those who recall the crypto community’s mindset as recently as early 2024.

Circle’s Stroke of Genius/Can Anyone Regulate AI?

Circle’s Stroke of Genius/Can Anyone Regulate AI?

John and Glen ruminate on a pair of major events reshuffling the fintech world- The Circle IPO’s impact on venture funding, and the Big Beautiful Bill’s unorthodox approach to throttling AI regulation. Also- John gets “spun out on quantum,” and admits a surprising change of heart regarding his outlook for AI.    

What the Chime and Circle IPOs Mean for Fintech Investment

What the Chime and Circle IPOs Mean for Fintech Investment

The first half of June has been remarkably eventful for the fintech investing world. On back-to-back Thursdays, market bellwethers Circle and Chime completed successful initial public offerings- trading on the NYSE and NASDAQ, respectively.

Are Younger Generations Branching Out?

Are Younger Generations Branching Out?

Glen speaks with Georgia State University Finance Professor Jonathan Godbey about new student-led consumer research that yields some unexpected findings about Gen Z banking attitudes. Plus- Circle’s IPO is roundly celebrated, Illinois kicks the interchange can down the road, and the AI Easter Egg hiding in the Big Beautiful Bill.     

The Business of Trust

The Business of Trust

Glen speaks with Edelman Smithfield’s Deidre Campbell to explore her firm’s new Financial Services Trust Barometer and the (mostly) positive signs for banks and credit unions. Also- the latest Gen AI fiasco has a familiar ring, Illinois’ unworkable interchange law moves bizarrely close to reality, and why the CFPB’s withdrawal of its open banking rule isn’t necessarily cause for celebration.  

A Tale of Two Coinbases

A Tale of Two Coinbases

For Coinbase it was the best of weeks and the worst of weeks- all wrapped into one.

Let’s lead with the positive- last Monday S&P Global announced that it was adding Coinbase to its benchmark S&P 500 stock index. This marks a watershed moment for the crypto sector, a major psychological milestone signifying the mainstreaming of an industry that not long ago seemed on the ropes as a result of multiple scandals and depressed asset prices.

Have Your Bot Call My Bot

Have My Bot Call Your Bot

Recapping this month’s Finovate Spring event, Glen connects with Steven Ramirez (Beyond the Arc) and Elias Kruger (Long Range AI) to compare notes on the standouts and key takeaways- such as agentic AI- from San Diego. Also- Coinbase packs a year’s news into a single week, and Nevada looks to enter the payments fray.

Will Pay By Bank Run FIs Off the Rails?

Will Pay By Bank Run FIs Off the Rails?

Glen connects with Paylume’s Andrew Gomez to unpack the burgeoning pay by bank model, explore lessons learned from other countries’ rollouts, and consider the pros and cons facing banks and credit unions. Also- a possible open banking do-over, more stadium naming rights, and resisting the urge to spike the ball before the goal line.