Agent Economy
How commerce changes when machines become buyers and sellers.
MAS Tests Cross-Bank AI Model to Speed Up Scam Detection
MAS is pushing for joint cross-bank AI model training to identify suspicious cross-institution fund flows while protecting data privacy, in a bid to break down anti-fraud data silos.
South Korea Moves to Tax Stablecoin Gains, Bringing AI Agent Payments Into Scope
Seoul's proposed capital gains tax on stablecoin holdings and trading would, for the first time, require automated payments initiated by AI agents to be recorded and reported.
US Congress Pushes AI Agents Into the Audit Trail as NIST Prepares Security Standards
A bipartisan bill would direct NIST to write deployment standards for AI agents, including tamper-evident activity logs and continuous verification.
U.S. Treasury Proposes Bringing Stablecoin Issuers Under AML and Sanctions Framework
The U.S. Treasury's proposed rule would require stablecoin issuers to meet anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance duties, reshaping cross-border settlement and agent payment infrastructure.
White House Crypto Adviser: Banks Shouldn't Fear Stablecoin Yields
A top White House crypto adviser urges banks to treat stablecoin yields as a manageable business opportunity, not a threat, amid ongoing legislative efforts.
U.S. Congress Holds First Hearing on AI Agent Payment Rules: Authorization, Settlement, and Identity Take Center Stage
In a landmark hearing, the U.S. House Financial Services Committee debated how AI agents should authorize and settle transactions, with Circle, NYSE, and banking representatives clashing over the future regulatory framework.
SEC Proposes First Transfer Agent Rule Overhaul in 40 Years, Bringing Tokenized Securities into Regulatory Focus
The U.S. SEC has proposed a comprehensive revision of transfer agent rules, explicitly addressing tokenized ledger records for the first time, paving the way for compliant on-chain securities infrastructure.
Fed Chair Warsh Calls AI a 'Hinge Point,' Urges Stablecoin Oversight and Payment Security
Christopher Warsh highlights AI's transformative impact on finance, calling for new compliance frameworks and federal stablecoin standards.
Hong Kong Tests AI Agent Payment Verification with New 'Agentic ID' Framework
Four financial regulators greenlight 36 use cases for expanded GenA.I. Sandbox++, including a pilot to authenticate AI agents in payment workflows using decentralized identifiers and verifiable credentials.
UK FCA Assesses T+1 Settlement Readiness: Payment Infrastructure Challenges Under the 2027 Countdown
The UK FCA's T+1 settlement readiness assessment reveals the deep impact of shortened securities settlement cycles on payment infrastructure and automation, directly tied to agentic payment efficiency.
Hong Kong Opens Second Round of Stablecoin License Applications, Compliance Hurdles Take Center Stage
The HKMA's renewed licensing window draws global interest but raises the bar with stricter reserve custody and disclosure rules.
As Senate Recess Looms, Window for Crypto Market Clarity Act Narrows
A revised ethics proposal is still awaiting White House response as the Senate heads into summer recess, dimming the Clarity Act's prospects for 2026.
CoinDesk Policy Roundtable: CLARITY Act and Anchorage's Agentic Banking Build
New York State Proposes Expanding Stablecoin Regulation, Law360 Reveals Draft Details
UK Policy Sprint Seminar: Cross-Border Payments Identified as the Most Mature Use Case for Stablecoins
The seminar concluded that cross-border payments are the clearest current application direction for stablecoins, and explored compliance frameworks.
US and EU Digital Asset Legislation Advances: CLARITY, GENIUS Bills and MiCA Take Center Stage
Digital asset legislation in the US and EU is accelerating. The CLARITY Act and GENIUS Act in the US focus on asset classification and stablecoin regulation, respectively, while the EU's MiCA is now in force, with profound implications for industry infrastructure and compliance frameworks.
EU's Full Implementation of MiCA Drives Up Compliance Costs, Crypto Industry Braces for M&A Wave
MiCA rules take effect for stablecoin issuers and require all crypto-asset service providers to obtain a license by 2026. Higher compliance thresholds may force smaller firms to sell, while licensed giants seize the chance to spread costs. The AI payment segment also faces stricter identity verification and risk screening.
Investigation Alleges Tether Used 'Revolving Door' to Influence U.S. Stablecoin Regulation
An investigation suggests that stablecoin issuer Tether hired former financial regulators to craft favorable rules, raising concerns about regulatory neutrality.
HKMA Warns: Counterfeit HSBC and 'HKDAP' Tokens Exploit Stablecoin Pilot Scams
Wise Plans to Resubmit U.S. Banking License Application Under GENIUS Act
British cross-border payments firm Wise will seek a banking license again under the Senate's stablecoin bill, aiming to participate in the issuance and settlement of USD stablecoins.
US Stablecoin Bill Accused of Being ‘Tailor-Made’ for Tether, Reigniting Revolving Door Controversy
Critics argue the bill’s loose reserve asset requirements and foreign issuer exemptions could give Tether an unfair compliance advantage.
Circle: Banking on Stablecoins in EMEA – Use Cases, Regulation & First Steps
FCA Sandbox First to Include Agent Payments, Anthropic Provides Claude Support
UK FCA’s Supercharged Sandbox has for the first time listed “AI agent-led payments” as a test case, with Anthropic providing Claude model support. Regulators and AI firms join forces to explore the compliance and security boundaries of agent payments.
UK Parliament Launches Inquiry into Access to Banking Services for Crypto Firms
The Treasury Committee of the UK Parliament has opened an investigation into obstacles facing crypto firms in obtaining banking services, inviting industry, regulators and banks to provide testimony.
Russia’s Crypto Bill Set for Second and Third Readings in State Duma
The State Duma plans to advance the Digital Currency and Digital Rights bill on July 21, establishing a regulatory framework for crypto trading, custody, investor access, and cross-border settlements under central bank oversight.
GENIUS Act Rulemaking Deadline Passes, U.S. Regulatory Framework Still Unfinalized
As of July 18, 2026, U.S. regulators have yet to finalize most of the payment stablecoin rules required under the GENIUS Act.
IMF Working Paper: Dollar Stablecoins Facilitate Currency Exchange, but May Also Amplify Runs
A new IMF working paper finds that in economies with fixed or heavily managed exchange rates and constrained foreign exchange supply, dollar-pegged stablecoins can both lower the barrier to accessing foreign currency and heighten exchange rate pressures.
UK FCA Finalises Crypto Rules, Sets Stablecoin Issuance Standards
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published final rules for crypto assets, covering trading, custody, intermediation, staking, market conduct, and stablecoin issuance.
Thailand Tightens Scrutiny on Large and Suspicious USDT Transactions
The Bank of Thailand and the Securities and Exchange Commission are ramping up joint checks on large and unusual USDT trades, linking bank and digital asset exchange data to trace suspicious fund flows, with a focus on curbing money laundering, fraud proceeds, underground currency exchanges, and “grey capital.”
U.S. GENIUS Act Rulemaking Deadline Approaches, Stablecoin Compliance Enters Critical Phase
The one-year rulemaking deadline under the U.S. GENIUS Act falls on July 18, 2026. Regulators including the OCC, Treasury, FinCEN, and OFAC are advancing implementation rules on issuance licensing, reserve assets, redemption mechanisms, disclosure, anti-money laundering, and sanctions compliance.
Circle Receives Final OCC Approval to Establish National Trust Bank, Bringing USDC Infrastructure Under Federal Oversight
The new entity, First National Digital Currency Bank, N.A., operating as Circle National Trust, will provide digital asset trust and custody services for Circle and its affiliates, with plans to manage USDC reserves.