On 16 December 2025 at 20:30, PayPal applied to U.S. regulators to establish a Utah-based industrial loan company. The bid aims to expand small‑business lending, cut reliance on partner banks, and, if approved, allow the firm to accept FDIC‑insured deposits and manage its own balance sheet.

The FDIC published a 38-page proposal outlining how regulated banks could apply, via subsidiaries, to issue payment stablecoins. According to an FDIC website posting, the draft lays out approval criteria and oversight; as Bloomberg reported, it will undergo a public consultation before advancing. The GENIUS Act cleared the Senate in June and was signed by President Donald Trump on July 18.

RedotPay, a stablecoin payments fintech, closed an oversubscribed $107 million Series B. The company reports more than 6 million registered users across over 100 countries and an annualized payment volume above $10 billion as of November 2025, alongside over $150 million in annualized revenue and year‑on‑year transaction growth.

On December 16, 2025, SRx Health Solutions announced plans to acquire EMJ Crypto Technologies, with Eric Jackson slated to become CEO if the deal closes early next year. Jackson is building a multi‑asset, options‑hedged crypto treasury that may hold Bitcoin, Ether and select stocks, while Keystone Capital Partners pledged up to $1 billion for 2.5 billion shares.

A YouGov poll for the UK Financial Conduct Authority reported that the share of UK adults holding crypto dropped to 8% in 2025 from 12% in 2024, based on interviews conducted between Aug. 5 and Sept. 2. Despite fewer holders, more respondents reported larger crypto positions, with many owning Bitcoin and Ether, and a notable minority holding Solana. The data was released the same day the FCA opened consultations on new rules for exchanges, staking, lending and DeFi.

Federal authorities in Russia intend to extend an existing multi-region ban on crypto mining to the southern areas of Buryatia and Transbaikal starting next year, replacing their current seasonal restrictions. The move follows a winter halt in these territories and earlier bans in parts of Irkutsk, as officials seek to ease power shortages linked to both legal and illegal mining operations.

A new Delphi Digital report says major crypto exchanges are competing to become the main interface for trading, payments and Web3 access. The analysis highlights Binance's single super app push, Kraken's multi-app "constellation" strategy and similar distribution-layer moves by Coinbase, OKX and Bybit. The outcome could determine which platforms control user discovery for third-party apps and the next wave of market adoption.

According to YouGov research commissioned by the FCA, the share of UK adults holding crypto dropped to 8% in 2025 from 12% in 2024, while awareness held at 91%. Despite fewer holders, average balances rose, with portfolios of £1,001–£5,000 reaching 21% and £5,001–£10,000 climbing to 11%.