The Bank of England is proposing extended operating hours for its RTGS and CHAPS settlement systems to support tokenized finance. This move, alongside FCA initiatives, aims to prepare UK wholesale markets for digital assets and new payment models. The PRA also issued guidance on regulatory treatment for tokenized instruments.
Peter Thiel-backed Augustus has won conditional OCC approval for a US bank charter focused on AI-driven payments and stablecoin settlement infrastructure.
ECB President Christine Lagarde said Europe should build tokenized settlement infrastructure anchored by central bank money rather than rely on private stablecoins.
Remittance firms are using crypto to bypass parts of traditional settlement infrastructure, but this does not mean SWIFT is disappearing.
Visa added five new blockchain networks—Arc, Base, Canton, Polygon, and Tempo—to its global stablecoin settlement pilot, bringing the total to nine. The payment giant's blockchain settlement volume reached $7 billion annualized, up 50% quarter-over-quarter from $4.7 billion. Visa now operates over 130 stablecoin-linked card programs across more than 50 countries.
The EU adopted its 20th Russia sanctions package on April 23, 2025, adding 120 new listings and targeting crypto settlement infrastructure including service providers, decentralized platforms, ruble-backed tokens, payment agents, and digital rouble support. The package bans business with any Russian crypto asset service provider and covers decentralized platforms used to circumvent sanctions. It specifically targets A7A5 (TengriCoin/Meer.kg) and RUBx stablecoins, marking the EU's largest sanctions move against Russia in years with crypto restrictions among its most specific measures.
