Stablecoins aren’t a “crypto side quest” anymore—they’re becoming core financial infrastructure.

In this episode of What’s Going On in Banking, Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant break down Mastercard’s $1.8B bet on stablecoin infrastructure, why deposits may be more mobile than ever, and what banks are getting completely wrong.

They also dive into:

• Why waiting on stablecoins could be a fatal mistake
• How tokenization could reshape payments (and profits)
• The real risk behind “we’re monitoring it” strategies
• And what Revolut needs to do to actually win in the U.S.

Bottom line: the industry is changing fast and not everyone is ready.

Show Notes:

• Stablecoins: What Community Banks Need To Know And Do Now
• What Revolut Needs To Do To Succeed In The US
• Mastercard us | Mastercard to acquire BVNK to connect on-chain payments and fiat rails

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Chapters
00:00] Intro + Stacey’s conference recap
[02:30] Why banks are still stuck on AI adoption
[04:00] Inside the On-Chain conference (what stood out)
[06:00] “You can’t sit this out” — stablecoin urgency
[08:30] Mastercard’s $1.8B acquisition breakdown
[11:00] Stablecoins = real infrastructure, not crypto hype
[13:30] Are banks outsourcing their future to Mastercard?
[16:00] Optimistic vs realistic vs pessimistic takes
[18:30] $6.6T in deposits at risk (“deposits that walk”)
[23:00] Revolut enters the U.S. — opportunity or overhyped?
[25:30] The “Cheesecake Factory” problem in fintech
[29:30] The future: do we even need banking apps anymore?

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We’re live and in person (from the “island of New Jersey” 😆) after Credit Union GAC and ahead of the New Jersey Bankers conference. And we’re breaking down the biggest banking and fintech headlines that actually matter.

Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant unpack:

• Why the mood at GAC was optimistic… with real undercurrents of concern
• Kraken’s banking arm getting direct access to the Fed’s payment rails, and what that signals for banks
• Why “waiting for regulatory clarity” on stablecoin doesn’t fly anymore (and why it’s now do-or-die)
• The private credit wake-up call for public bank stocks
• Block’s massive layoffs and the “AI did it” narrative (spoiler: we’re not buying it)
• What AI agents can do today, what they can’t, and why “human-in-the-loop” is often misunderstood
• Why bankers are uneasy about using agents for fraud, and what needs to change
• The real takeaway from a credit union CEO saying “our members aren’t asking for stablecoin”

If you’re in banking, credit unions, fintech, or payments…this episode is a fast, honest reality check on what’s coming next and how to prepare.

Show Notes:

• Block Lays Off 40% Of Staff And Blames It On AI. Don’t Buy The Excuse.
• 2026 What's Going On In Banking Industry Report

Subscribe to the What's Going On In Banking podcast here:
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Chapters
[0:00] Live from “New Jersey Island” + GAC recap
[1:48] Optimism at GAC… and the regulatory undercurrent
[4:19] Kraken gets Fed access: why banks should pay attention
[5:10] “Crypto isn’t a threat?” The wake-up call
[6:41] Stablecoin: “regulatory clarity” is no longer an excuse
[7:23] Big banks, credit quality, and the private credit threat
[8:19] Block layoffs: the “AI made us do it” claim
[12:06] Klarna vs Affirm: a real-world agent experience
[18:05] AI agents in fraud: why 40% aren’t comfortable
[27:08] “Members aren’t asking for stablecoin” (and why that’s the wrong lens)

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Capital One buys Brex for $5B.

Goldman Sachs builds AI agents with Anthropic.

MrBeast acquires a fintech.

This isn’t a headline mashup — it’s what’s happening in banking right now.

In this episode of What’s Going On in Banking, Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant break down the biggest moves reshaping financial services — and what they mean for banks and credit unions without megabank budgets.

Inside the conversation:

• What the Capital One + Brex deal signals for SMB banking
• Why Goldman’s AI “digital coworkers” change the build vs. buy debate
• How AI agents may reshape back-office operations
• The emerging battle to own the checking account workflow
• Why banks are no longer just competing on rates, but on software

From stablecoins to autonomous AI, this episode separates strategy from hype and highlights what institutions should actually be paying attention to.

Show Notes:

• Goldman Equips AI Agents to do Trade Accounting, Onboarding
• Invasion of the Job Snatchers: Digital Bank Workers Have Arrived | Bank Director
• Ron's Take on Array Acquiring Chimney

The 2026 What's Going On In Banking Report is NOW LIVE!!

• Download the Report: https://lnkd.in/gBNhy53P
• Watch the recap of the Webinar: https://vimeo.com/1166796761

Subscribe to the What's Going On In Banking podcast here:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/whats-going-on-in-banking

Chapters
[0:00] Welcome + Arizona Recap & Stablecoin Talk
[3:10] Capital One’s $5B Brex Deal
[5:35] Why SMBs Expect Integrated Banking Tech
[7:27] SMB Segmentation: Capital, Industry, Technology
[10:19] Strategy Over Scale: The Real Growth Question
[11:14] Goldman Sachs Builds AI “Digital Coworkers”
[13:05] What AI Agents Actually Do (And Don’t Do)
[17:23] AI Risks, Bias & The Human Factor
[19:25] MrBeast, Grab & The Fintech Acquisition Wave
[20:36] The Hidden Battle for the Checking Account

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