BlackRock: Ethereum Is Becoming the Backbone of Wall Street Tokenization
BlackRock has positioned Ethereum as the foundational infrastructure behind Wall Street’s growing push into tokenization. The firm argues that Ethereum’s security, developer ecosystem, and institutional adoption make it the most credible blockchain for real-world assets. This endorsement underscores how tokenization is moving from experimentation into mainstream capital markets. For banks, asset managers, and regulators across the US and EU, the message is clear: blockchain infrastructure decisions are becoming long-term strategic bets. The development signals accelerating convergence between traditional finance and public blockchain networks. It also reinforces Ethereum’s role as institutional crypto rails rather than a speculative asset.
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Insight of the Day
𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤
Despite years of investment in RegTech, watchlist screening is still one of the noisiest and most manual parts of the compliance stack in Fintech.
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The data is hard to ignore:
• 90–95% of watchlist and AML alerts are false positives across many institutions
• Compliance teams spend the majority of their time reviewing low-risk matches, not real threats
• Fragmented screening across onboarding, ongoing monitoring, and payments leads to inconsistent decisions and duplicated work
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As volumes grow and real-time payments expand, this model simply doesn’t scale. The real problem isn’t a lack of technology.
It’s outdated screening logic and disconnected systems.
Most screening setups were built for static, rules-based environments. But today, fintechs are dealing with:
→ Global customers
→ Constant sanctions updates
→ Instant payments
→ Higher regulatory expectations
→ Pressure to move faster with leaner teams
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What’s starting to change and what I find most interesting is how fintech companies are rethinking screening from the ground up.
Not as a compliance checkbox, but as a precision risk filter applied consistently across the full customer lifecycle.
A few shifts I’m seeing across the industry:
• Moving from rigid rules to risk-calibrated screening logic
• Reducing alert volumes by 70–90% using smarter matching and context
• Using explainable AI that mirrors analyst reasoning instead of black-box decisions
• Unifying screening across onboarding, ongoing monitoring, and payments
The goal isn’t to remove humans from the loop. It’s to give compliance teams fewer alerts, better signals, and clearer explanations — while maintaining auditability and regulatory confidence.
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I’ll be joining a live session by Unit21 next week to unpack how fintech compliance teams are redesigning watchlist screening for 2026 and beyond.
If you’re leading compliance, risk, or building fintech infrastructure, it’s worth a listen.
Curated News
💳 Payments
Fiserv and SMBC Bring Clover Commerce Suite to Millions of Merchants
Fiserv and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation have launched a new Clover suite to enable digital commerce for millions of merchants. The partnership strengthens Clover’s footprint while deepening bank–fintech collaboration in global merchant services.
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TrueLayer and Stripe Power Pay by Bank in Finland
TrueLayer and Stripe are enabling Pay by Bank payments in Finland through Kustom Checkout. The rollout highlights growing European momentum behind account-to-account payments as a card alternative.
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Phuket Smart Bus Launches Contactless Payments with Mastercard
Phuket’s Smart Bus system has launched Tap & Go contactless payments with Mastercard and Krungthai Bank. The initiative demonstrates how transit systems are driving everyday adoption of digital payments in emerging tourist hubs.
Source
🏦 Banking
Payoneer Acquires Boundless to Expand European Reach
Payoneer has acquired Ireland-based Boundless to strengthen its European footprint. The move supports Payoneer’s strategy to deepen services for cross-border businesses and global SMBs.
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First Entertainment Credit Union Launches Digital Bank for Creatives
First Entertainment Credit Union and Nymbus have launched CineFi, a digital credit union tailored to entertainment professionals. The initiative shows how niche banking models are gaining traction through digital-first infrastructure.
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💼 Fintech
Airwallex Acquires South Korea’s Paynuri in Asia Expansion Push
Airwallex has acquired South Korea’s Paynuri as part of its Asia expansion strategy. The deal strengthens Airwallex’s payments infrastructure in one of Asia’s most advanced digital economies.
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BlackRock Leads $25M Round in Bridge Loan Platform Atlas Invest
BlackRock has led a $25 million funding round in Atlas Invest, a bridge loan platform. The investment highlights institutional interest in digitising private credit and short-term financing.
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Epic Angels-Backed Neem Secures Pre-Series A Funding
Fintech startup Neem has raised pre-Series A funding with backing from Epic Angels. The round supports Neem’s growth as it builds financial products for underserved markets.
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GoHenry Launches Free Financial Education for UK Families
GoHenry has launched free financial education lessons for families across the UK. The move reinforces the fintech’s mission to improve financial literacy from an early age.
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🪙 Crypto
Bitcoin Rally to $90K Triggers $1B in Liquidations
Bitcoin’s spike toward $90,000 led to more than $1 billion in crypto liquidations after tariff-related market shifts. The event highlights persistent volatility driven by macro and political developments.
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Ethereum Sentiment Turns Bearish as Traders Eye $2.5K
Market sentiment around Ethereum has flipped bearish, with traders bracing for a potential drop to $2,500. The shift underscores how quickly positioning can change amid broader market uncertainty.
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Bermuda Pushes Fully On-Chain Economy with Coinbase and Circle
Bermuda is betting on a fully on-chain economy, partnering with Coinbase and Circle to advance stablecoin adoption. The move positions the jurisdiction as a global testbed for regulated digital finance.
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📊 WealthTech
Eolas Capital and Axyon AI Bring AI Investing Tools to US Managers
Eolas Capital and Italian fintech Axyon AI have partnered to deliver AI-powered investment solutions to US asset managers. The collaboration reflects rising demand for data-driven portfolio optimisation.
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⚖️ Regulation
Trump Calls for 10% Credit Card Interest Rate Cap
Donald Trump has urged Congress to introduce a 10% cap on credit card interest rates, sending bank stocks higher. The proposal reignites debate around consumer protection and banking profitability in the US.
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Australian Retailers Prepare for New Cash Acceptance Rules
Australian retailers are facing new regulations requiring broader cash acceptance. The changes highlight ongoing tension between digital payments growth and financial inclusion concerns.
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🧩 Other
Scammers Impersonate Nabtrade Executive to Promote Fake Investments
Fraudsters have impersonated Nabtrade CEO Tom Piotrowski to endorse bogus investment schemes. The incident highlights escalating social engineering risks targeting investors.
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Guavapay Founder Steps Down as Mastercard Lawsuit Escalates
Guavapay’s founder has resigned as Mastercard takes the company to court. The dispute underscores mounting legal and commercial pressures in the payments ecosystem.
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Zinnia Partners with Snowflake on Insurance Analytics and AI
Zinnia has announced a collaboration with Snowflake to deliver real-time insurance analytics and AI solutions. The partnership highlights increasing digitisation across the insurance value chain.
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