Real Time Payments’ Rapid Ascent Continues, with Some Odd Footnotes
In February we performed a side-by-side comparison of the impressive 2024 growth of RTP, FedNow and Same Day ACH, albeit off relatively small bases. At 2025’s halfway point the story is much the same- solid percentage growth continues despite larger starting points, while the dollar value of these transactions raises some intriguing questions.
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.
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.
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.
Honey, I Shrunk the NCUA Board
It was a fascinating week to be in the presence of 500 credit union leaders at NACUSO’s Reimagine conference. After all, the internal machinations of an obscure federal financial insurance/supervisory agency aren’t exactly headline fodder for the general public. To the industry professionals assembled in Vegas, however, it was clear a seismic shift had occurred. (Despite our lighthearted title let me be clear- this is no laughing matter.)
Executive Order to Eliminate Checks Isn’t Worth the Paper it’s Printed On
The number of Executive Orders emerging from President Trump’s Oval Office has been unprecedented. Many have been far-reaching and, in the eyes of some, over-reaching. Others have been just… weird. March 25’s EO mandating that the Federal Government cease issuing paper checks falls in the latter category.
A Pivotal (Sub)Chapter in Credit Union History
The term “existential threat” has been coming up a bit too often for comfort- and this time it may not be hyperbole.
GAC Takeaways: Tax Exemption, Interchange, the CFPB and NCUA
Record-setting attendance of more than 6,000 is a nice headline, but it only begins to convey the story. Last week’s Governmental Affairs Conference featured heightened levels of energy and urgency that transcended badge counts- and not for entirely happy reasons.
Zelle Hits a Trillion, Same Day ACH Says “Hold My Beer”
A flurry of year-end data provided valuable insight on the state of faster payments in the US and prompted some organizational chest-thumping. It also breathes new life into the question, “how fast is fast enough?”
Did You Have That One On Your Bingo Card?
What started as an offhand comment- “I bet you didn’t have that on your bingo card”- took on a life of its own.