Fintech Rain is seeking approval from the OCC to establish a national trust bank, marking a significant step toward bringing its financial infrastructure deeper into the regulated banking system. The move could give Rain a broader role in providing regulated financial services rather than operating solely as a fintech platform. It also highlights the growing trend of financial technology companies seeking direct access to regulated banking infrastructure. If approved, the national trust bank could strengthen Rain’s ability to build and scale its financial products. The application is another example of the increasingly blurred line between fintech companies and traditional banking institutions.
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Insight of the Day
2026 Report on Tokenization Adoption
Tokenization, the process of creating digital representations of real-world assets, has the potential to make traditional financial products faster to trade, easier to transfer, and more accessible across platforms and account types. It is emerging as one of the most consequential applications of digital-asset technology for banks, asset managers, brokerages, retirement platforms, and everyday investors. In continuing its legacy of premier public opinion polling, HarrisX conducted a national survey of 2,008 U.S. registered voters to measure perceptions of digital assets and tokenized investments. Several key findings emerged from the survey:
• Americans are cautious and underinformed about digital assets, but they are open to tokenization when it is framed as practical financial modernization rather than crypto innovation. Only 31% are familiar with tokenization, yet interest rises when Americans see concrete benefits and access through familiar, established financial channels.
• The strongest perceived consumer benefits are practical: faster settlement, 24/7 access, easier transfers, fractional ownership, and broader access to investments. By contrast, blockchain itself is not a compelling consumer message. Americans respond less to the technology and more to what it enables.
• Adoption will depend on confidence. Consumers want tokenized investments to feel protected, regulated, affordable, and easy to hold in accounts they already use. The open-ended responses reinforce this: many Americans are confused, and skeptics worry about hacking, scams, volatility, lack of regulation, and whether digital assets are truly backed.
• This gives major financial institutions a clear advantage. Banks, asset managers, brokerages, and retirement platforms can make tokenization feel more familiar, credible, and safe. The opportunity is to define tokenization before it is defined as another speculative crypto product.
Curated News
💳 Payments
Ant International, HSBC complete UAE token payment pilot
Ant International and HSBC have completed a token payment pilot in the UAE, demonstrating the use of tokenized payment infrastructure in a real-world setting. The pilot highlights the growing convergence between traditional banking and tokenized payments.
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Independent Reserve adds cross-border payment tools
Independent Reserve has expanded its platform with new cross-border payment tools. The move broadens the financial services available through the digital-asset platform.
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Wise Adds Flexible eSIM Data Plans and Cross-Border QR Payments
Wise is adding flexible eSIM data plans alongside cross-border QR payment capabilities. The expansion brings travel connectivity and international payments closer together within the platform.
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Ecommpay Helps Merchants Reach More Vietnamese Customers
Ecommpay is expanding merchants’ ability to reach customers in Vietnam. The initiative focuses on improving payment access for businesses targeting the Vietnamese market.
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🏦 Banking
Revolut Wants More Than a Manila Tech Hub as It Eyes a Philippine Digital Bank
Revolut is looking beyond a technology hub as it explores opportunities in the Philippines. The company is considering a broader digital-banking presence in the market.
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Call Federal Credit Union Launches Mahalo Banking’s Thoughtful Banking® Platform
Call Federal Credit Union has launched Mahalo Banking’s Thoughtful Banking platform. The platform is designed to provide a new digital banking experience for the credit union’s customers.
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Wells Fargo Brings Debit Card Personalization to the Mobile App
Wells Fargo is bringing debit card personalization capabilities directly to its mobile app. The feature gives customers greater control over their card experience through digital banking.
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UK picks banks as lead managers for digital gilt pilot
The UK has selected banks to act as lead managers for a digital gilt pilot. The initiative explores how government debt issuance could incorporate digital financial infrastructure.
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JPMorgan Chase extends lead as world’s most AI-advanced bank
JPMorgan Chase has further strengthened its position as a leading adopter of artificial intelligence in banking. The bank continues to expand its use of AI across financial services.
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💼 Fintech
DNB to lay off 400 and expand use of AI agents
Norwegian bank DNB plans to cut 400 positions while expanding its use of AI agents. The move illustrates how financial institutions are increasingly using AI to automate operational work.
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AlphaSense Launches Next-Generation AI Agent SuperAnalyst to Power High-Value Financial and Strategic Workflows
AlphaSense has launched its next-generation AI agent, SuperAnalyst, targeting high-value financial and strategic workflows. The tool is designed to help automate and accelerate research and analysis.
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ABA Announces Investment in BankTech Ventures
The American Bankers Association has announced an investment in BankTech Ventures. The investment supports the development of technology serving the banking sector.
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Plaid Releases New AI Models to Improve Decisions Across Credit, Fraud and Payments
Plaid has released new AI models aimed at improving decisions across credit, fraud and payments. The models expand the role of AI across several core financial-services workflows.
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Comparables.ai Raises $6M in Seed Funding
Comparables.ai has raised $6 million in seed funding. The company will use the funding to develop its financial technology offering.
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🪙 Crypto
Morgan Stanley Builds Crypto Lab To Test Digital Assets
Morgan Stanley is building a crypto lab to experiment with digital assets and related technologies. The initiative signals continued institutional interest in developing practical applications for crypto.
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Anchorage Digital Expands Global Services with Standard Chartered
Anchorage Digital is expanding its global services through a relationship with Standard Chartered. The move further connects institutional digital-asset infrastructure with traditional banking.
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OKX draws investment from StanChart, Circle, Ripple as it pushes beyond crypto exchange roots
OKX has attracted investment from Standard Chartered, Circle and Ripple as it expands beyond its traditional crypto-exchange business. The backing highlights growing interest in broader digital-asset financial infrastructure.
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Solana Debuts Institutional Settlement Standard With J.P. Morgan Input
Solana has introduced an institutional settlement standard with input from J.P. Morgan. The initiative aims to make blockchain infrastructure more suitable for institutional financial activity.
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Another Zcash ETF Is Coming: Winklevoss Twins File for ‘WINK’
The Winklevoss twins have filed for another Zcash ETF under the proposed WINK ticker. The filing adds to growing efforts to bring crypto exposure into regulated investment products.
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Strive Adds $169M Bitcoin in Its Biggest Buy in Four Months
Strive has added $169 million worth of Bitcoin in its largest purchase in four months. The acquisition increases the firm’s exposure to the cryptocurrency.
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📈 WealthTech
Morgan Stanley Builds Crypto Lab To Test Digital Assets
Morgan Stanley’s new crypto lab will explore potential applications for digital assets within financial markets. The initiative could inform how traditional investment firms approach the evolving asset class.
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⚖️ Regulation
French regulator targets crowdfunding platforms
France’s financial regulator is targeting crowdfunding platforms as part of increased regulatory scrutiny. The move highlights the growing oversight of alternative-finance platforms.
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🌍 Other
Community finance and open banking technology can support ‘credit invisibles’ – Salad Finance
Salad Finance argues that community finance and open banking technology can help people who lack traditional credit histories. Alternative financial data could help bring more consumers into the formal credit system.
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