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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In this special bonus episode of What’s Going On in Banking, Ron Shevlin, Chief Research Officer at Cornerstone Advisors, is joined by Steve Williams, CEO & Partner of Cornerstone Advisors, to break down the findings from the 2026 WGOIB Webinar Report.

Based on insights from 400+ banks and credit unions, this report reveals how financial institutions are preparing for what’s next in:

• Artificial Intelligence strategy and investment
• Crypto’s evolving role in banking
• The escalating fraud crisis
• Technology spending priorities
• Growth and competitive pressures in 2026

If you want to understand where the industry is actually heading — not just the hype — this episode delivers the data behind the decisions.

Download the full report:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/research/whats-going-on-in-banking-2026


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 & Bonus Episode Overview
[1:45] Why 2026 Will Be a Pivotal Year for Banking
[4:30] Inside the Survey: 400+ Banks & Credit Unions Weigh In
[7:15] AI Strategy: Where Banks Are Investing (and Where They’re Not)
[11:20] Crypto in 2026: Reality vs. Hype
[14:40] The Fraud Explosion: What’s Keeping Executives Up at Night
[18:10] Technology Spending Priorities for 2026
[22:00] Growth, Competition & Strategic Shifts
[25:30] What Leaders Should Be Doing Right Now
[28:00] Final Takeaways & How to Access the Full Report

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Banks are racing into AI and “data strategy” — but most can’t clearly define what they’re actually doing.

Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant break down why chasing trends won’t fix broken strategy, and why specificity, execution, and focus matter more than hype.

If you're in banking or fintech, this is the reality check you need.

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

• Download the Report: https://lnkd.in/gBNhy53P
• Register for the Webinar, Feb 25th at 10:00am PT / 1:00pm ET: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/events-and-webinars/whats-going-on-in-banking-2026

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] AI Hype vs. Strategy
[6:30] The Problem With “Just Doing AI”
[8:26] Test, Learn, Scale Explained
[15:07] What Kind of Data Are We Talking About?
[15:25] Customer vs. Market vs. Operational Data
[16:26] Execution Quality & Data IQ
[18:32] Where Financial Institutions Get Stuck
[20:00] Practical Advice for 2026
[26:31] Final Takeaways

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A 10% credit card rate cap.

Crypto offering yield.

Apple ditching Goldman for JPMorgan Chase.

In this episode of What’s Going On in Banking, Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant break down the real-world consequences of headline-grabbing policy ideas, why buy now, pay later keeps winning with consumers, and what banks are getting right and wrong about crypto, partnerships, and relevance in 2026.

This isn’t political theater. It’s banking reality.

If you work in banking, fintech, payments, or credit unions, this episode is required listening.

Show Notes:

• Banks Cry Foul Over High-Yielding Tokens as Crypto Fight Simmers in Washington
• The Proposed Credit Card Interest Rate Cap Is All Politics, No Policy

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 & catching up at Cornerstone
[2:45] The proposed 10% credit card rate cap
[4:45] Why the cap could hurt consumers most
[7:15] Buy Now, Pay Later vs credit cards
[10:25] Is BNPL the new “starter credit”?
[11:40] Should crypto be allowed to offer yield?
[14:05] Are banks overestimating the crypto threat?
[17:05] Apple Card: Goldman out, JPMorgan in
[19:20] What Apple & Goldman got wrong
[20:40] Final thoughts & what banks should focus on

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2026 is here — and banking is officially walking into the unknown.

In the first What’s Going On in Banking episode of the year, Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant unpack the biggest forces shaping financial services right now: AI agents, crypto & stablecoins, fraud risks, fintech competition, and what banks think they’re prioritizing vs. what actually gets done.

From Wizard of Oz metaphors to real-world data from hundreds of bank and credit union executives, this episode delivers a sneak peek into the What’s Going On in Banking 2026 Report and why engagement, data utilization, and payments may matter more than ever.

If you work in banking, fintech, or credit unions, this is a must-watch to understand what’s changing and what’s being underestimated.

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 to 2026 & Gonzo Banker Awards recap
[2:05] The legendary “Gonzoquito” moment 🍹
[4:55] Sneak peek: What’s in the 2026 Banking Report
[6:35] AI, Crypto & Fraud: Banking’s new “scary forest”
[9:35] Top concerns for banks & credit unions in 2026
[12:35] Cost of funds vs. deposit gathering—what’s misunderstood
[15:20] Fintechs, Coinbase & the real competitive threat
[19:00] Consumer behavior, engagement & digital expectations
[22:40] Why P2P payments jumped to #1 for credit unions
[29:45] AI agents, MCP & why “not ready for prime time” matters

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AI is redefining banking, travel, creativity, and how financial institutions must evolve. In this episode of What’s Going On in Banking, Stacey Bryant and Ron Shevlin dive into the future of generative AI, the creativity gap in banking, SoFi’s bold crypto move, and why most banks are dangerously behind consumer expectations.

From real-world AI travel examples to new research showing massive crypto demand from Gen Z, millennials, and even Gen X, this conversation unpacks what’s coming in 2026 — and what banks must do to survive it.


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 + What’s Cooking in Banking
[0:34] Stacey’s Food & Travel Story
[1:42] Industry Events & CMN Support
[3:13] Ron’s New Granddaughter Update
[4:48] What Banks Are Asking About AI
[5:32] The McKinsey AI Travel Example
[7:30] Could AI Build Your Financial Life Itinerary?
[9:03] Ron Clarifies What Generative AI Really Is
[12:21] Jobs, Creativity & the Human Side of AI
[20:54] SoFi, Crypto Demand & The Future of Banking

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