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Archive · April 11, 2026

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Story 01

HSBC Wins Hong Kong Stablecoin License, Forcing Local Banks to Rethink Digital Currency

HSBC has secured a stablecoin issuer license from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, making it the first major bank in the region to enter regulated stablecoin issuance. This positions HSBC to capture institutional and retail flows as stablecoins move into mainstream payments, putting pressure on rival banks and fintechs to accelerate their own digital asset strategies. Competing institutions in Hong Kong now face a choice: partner, build, or risk losing share in digital payments and deposits as customers seek stablecoin-enabled services.

Source: Finextra
Also Worth Knowing
№02

FedNow Eyes Cross-Border Payments, Challenging Legacy International Rails

The Federal Reserve is evaluating whether to enable cross-border fund transfers via FedNow, expanding its reach beyond domestic instant payments. U.S. banks and global corporates stand to benefit from faster, cheaper settlement, while incumbent cross-border platforms like SWIFT and Visa B2B Connect face new competition. U.S. banks and fintechs are preparing to integrate FedNow for international treasury flows, aiming to reduce reliance on slower, costlier legacy rails.

Source: Banking Dive
№03

CFTC Launches Task Force to Set AI and Prediction Market Rules

The CFTC has formed an Innovation Task Force to develop regulatory guidelines for AI and prediction markets in derivatives trading. This move gives fintechs and trading platforms a clearer path to launch AI-driven financial products, while also signaling that regulatory scrutiny will intensify. Firms building AI-powered trading or risk tools now have a window to shape standards before enforcement ramps up.

Source: PYMNTS
№04

Binance Adds Prediction Markets, Expanding Crypto Exchange Beyond Trading

Binance has rolled out a prediction markets feature, letting users speculate on future events directly within its platform. This move broadens Binance’s product suite and is likely to draw active crypto traders and retail speculators seeking new ways to engage, while prompting other exchanges to diversify beyond spot and derivatives trading. As user participation increases, regulators are expected to examine prediction market compliance and consumer protections.

Source: Finextra
№05

BPC Unveils Instant Merchant Money Movement Across Latin America

BPC has launched a platform enabling merchants in Latin America to move funds instantly, bypassing traditional bank settlement cycles. This gives regional merchants faster access to working capital and could erode banks’ fee income from legacy payment rails. Banks in the region now face a direct challenge to their role in merchant settlement and must respond with real-time offerings or risk being bypassed by merchants seeking speed.

Source: Finextra
The Long Memory
“Despite their digital focus, over 60% of global stablecoin transactions in 2023 settled during traditional banking hours, not around the clock as often assumed.

Filed under: Payments History · The Long Memory

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