Regulations & Policy

SEC Chair Gensler to crypto platforms: Come to us before we come for you

The SEC head called on digital asset exchanges to register with the agency, citing concerns for "vulnerable" investors. "If we don’t address these issues, I worry a lot of people will be hurt," he said.  

By Caitlin Mullen • Dec. 3, 2021

Crypto execs to face House panel next week

Executives from crypto firms Coinbase and Circle are among those in the line-up for a Dec. 8 discussion of "the challenges and benefits of financial innovation" as House lawmakers seek answers.

By Robin Bradley • Dec. 3, 2021

Will the Amazon-Visa dispute spill over to other credit card companies?

While Visa's rivals are dependent on interchange fees like those at the center of the Amazon-Visa fight, they also might benefit if Amazon tosses some business in new directions.

By Jonathan Berr • Nov. 30, 2021

Senate banking chair queries crypto CEOs

The complexity of stablecoins makes it difficult for investors and consumers to fully understand their potential risks, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH, said in letters to eight issuers and exchanges, including Coinbase and Tether.

By Anna Hrushka • Nov. 29, 2021

Bank regulators to roll out crypto guidance in 2022

Tuesday's two-page report didn’t provide many details on how banks should navigate digital assets, but regulators said the industry should expect to see the agencies roll out guidance throughout next year. 

By Anna Hrushka • Nov. 24, 2021

Payment Choice Act wins bipartisan backing

New Jersey Democrat Rep. Payne is trying to preserve cash as a form of payment and collecting support across the aisle, even as the possibility of a U.S. digital dollar gains traction.

By Lynne Marek • Nov. 23, 2021

Biden to nominate Powell as Fed chair

Lael Brainard, Powell's chief rival for the role, will be nominated as vice chair. Biden intends to announce nominees for three open Fed slots in early December, the White House said Monday.

By Dan Ennis • Nov. 22, 2021

Will Amazon's war of words with Visa backfire?

Consumers may not tolerate fewer payment options from Amazon, an analyst says. Still, Amazon may be willing to risk angering customers as it pressures Visa and other payment providers to reduce their transaction costs.

By Jonathan Berr • Nov. 18, 2021

Ripple puts SEC on losing end in crypto regulation proposal

The company last week said the existing framework can be adapted to fit crypto and touted legislation that would de-emphasize the SEC's role in favor of the CFTC.

By Dan Ennis • Nov. 17, 2021

After much hyped IPO, Toast scales back financial disclosures

Wall Street analyst raises questions about the company's financial disclosures.

By Jonathan Berr • Nov. 12, 2021

Payments trade group rebuts retailers

The Electronic Payments Coalition says it wants to set the record straight: "Expanding the Durbin Amendment would be a disaster for consumers and small businesses."

By Jeff Tassey • Nov. 11, 2021

CFPB's hard line with payments industry may be a hint of things to come

Six of the biggest tech companies in the US are stepping up to meet the demands of the CFPB's new head, Rohit Chopra, regarding their payments practices.

By Jonathan Berr • Nov. 8, 2021

Toomey cautions against proposal to regulate stablecoin issuers as banks

"I think we have to really think long and hard before we put some onerous regulatory regime on a new technology," the Republican senator from Pennsylvania said.

By Anna Hrushka • Nov. 8, 2021

Regulators eye bank-like oversight for stablecoin issuers

Stablecoins can support beneficial payments options, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, "but the absence of appropriate oversight presents risks to users and the broader system."

By Anna Hrushka • Nov. 3, 2021

Congress debates pros and cons of BNPL

Buy now-pay later users love the convenience but also are falling behind in their payments.

By Jonathan Berr • Nov. 3, 2021

Payments tech to draw $40B next year: Forrester

The research firm's 2022 outlook also anticipates IPOs for major payments players as well as increased use of digital wallets and QR codes.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 3, 2021

Early wage payments draw scrutiny

Companies that offer earned wage access, aka on-demand pay, have proliferated in the U.S. Now, legislators and regulators are targeting the industry for more oversight.

By Lynne Marek • Updated Nov. 4, 2021

Regulator previews coming crypto, stablecoin policy

Jelena McWilliams shared details about the interagency "crypto sprint" involving the FDIC, the OCC and the Fed, and said the agencies plan to issue a series of policy statements in the coming months.

By Anna Hrushka • Oct. 28, 2021

Valley Bank unveils payments app for cannabis businesses

Valley Bank is partnering with a large processor to offer the service, which is similar to using a reloadable Starbucks wallet gift card, Chief Digital Product Officer Stuart Cook said. A "large processor" that's involved wants to remain anonymous.

By Anna Hrushka • Oct. 27, 2021

Discover CEO plans payments push

Discover's Payments business could have a much bigger impact on the company's bottom line, according to analysts at William Blair.

By Jonathan Berr • Oct. 26, 2021

Elavon eyes BNPL arena

Payments processor Elavon will do what it takes to get into the buy now-pay later market--whether that means buying, building or partnering, said CEO Jamie Walker.

By Lynne Marek • Oct. 26, 2021

Ransomware activity soars, Treasury finds

The number of "suspicious activity reports" filed this year has already jumped 30% over the 2020 total, and the agency has tracked billions of dollars in bitcoin payments potentially linked to ransomware.

By Samantha Schwartz • Oct. 19, 2021

Retail groups urge credit swipe routing changes

Retail and merchant trade groups have long pressed policymakers for regulatory changes to reduce card interchange fees. Now, they're urging that routing of credit card transactions be regulated just as debit transactions already are. 

By Doug Kantor • Oct. 19, 2021

Celsius, Tether and the 'known known'

Lender Celsius' admission that Tether accepts crypto tokens in exchange for stablecoins should be a bombshell. Rather, it confirms a suspicion regulators held so strongly that they've already penalized Tether for it. Twice.

By Dan Ennis • Oct. 19, 2021

Coinbase sees single regulator, new framework for crypto supervision

The approach would keep companies from having to comply with several agencies, which are adapting old laws to new tech, and help maintain the U.S.'s status as a "shaper" of oversight, Coinbase said.

By Dan Ennis • Oct. 18, 2021