Fintech’s in a very grown-up mood. Santander makes its biggest U.S. bet in years, insider and founder fraud cases remind us why controls matter, Treasury signals a softer regulatory stance, and a Trump-linked stablecoin charter keeps Washington buzzing. Plus, crypto quietly hits the Clover checkout — we unpack what it all means as digital finance moves from hype to infrastructure.

It’s a busy tab at the fintech bar. Fifth Third and Comerica officially merge as markets cheer consolidation, PayPal stumbles on earnings and swaps CEOs, Brazil returns to Nasdaq with PicPay’s IPO, Varo raises fresh capital while still in the red, and a Silicon Valley crypto startup walks a fine line between financial inclusion and sanctions scrutiny. We break down what it all means for banks, builders, and the global money system — one drink at a time.

Fintech’s juggling regulation, growth, and global ambition. Trump’s pick for Fed chair sparks debate on rates and digital dollars, SoFi posts a crypto-fueled earnings blowout, a Chicago bank becomes 2026’s first failure, Seis winds down, and Stripe supercharges global checkout with BigCommerce. We break down what it all means for banks, builders, and the future of money — cheers to staying ahead.

Fintech’s moving fast. Nubank charges into the US with a national bank charter, Visa and Mastercard earnings reveal how consumers are really spending, and Washington stirs up drama with the Credit Card Competition Act. We also break down crypto’s coming-of-age moment — from Mesh hitting unicorn status to MoonPay turning compliance into a growth engine — and what it all means for the future of money.

Fintech’s juggling heart and hard policy. JPMorgan and Bank of America roll out baby investment accounts for employees, Fidelity launches its own stablecoin, and Washington wrestles with the high-stakes Clarity Act showdown. We break down what it all means for markets, regulation, and the future of money — minus the fog, plus a little happy hour flair.

Fintech’s moving fast—and regulators, AI, and crypto are all colliding. From New York’s crackdown on earned wage access to Mastercard’s agentic AI push, Bank of America’s Erica scaling quietly, and Tether’s made-in-America stablecoin debut, there’s a lot to unpack. We break down what it all means for innovation, incumbents, and the future of money—without the noise.

Payments are getting a serious upgrade. Affirm pushes BNPL straight into debit cards with Fiserv, applies for a banking charter, PayPal doubles down on agentic AI with its Cymbio acquisition, crypto payments get another swing from Square and Stripe, and Wyoming launches the first-ever state-issued stablecoin. We break down what it all means for banks, merchants, and the future of money — from checkout to the capitol.

Payments are heating up and compliance is tightening. Capital One scoops up Brex in a blockbuster fintech deal, Truist closes the book on a costly overdraft saga, a massive crypto scam marketplace collapses, and JPMorgan freezes stablecoin accounts tied to sanctioned markets. We break down what it all means for banks, builders, and the future of money — with a few sharp one-liners along the way.