Global banking heavyweight Banco Santander is quietly laying the groundwork to enter the stablecoin space, eyeing fiat-pegged digital tokens as part of a broader strategy to offer crypto services to retail clients.
While the initiative is still in its infancy, insiders suggest Santander is evaluating the feasibility of issuing both dollar- and euro-denominated stablecoins. This development comes as several major financial institutions, including JPMorgan and Citigroup, reportedly consider similar ventures, encouraged by a more favorable regulatory climate under the Trump administration.
Proponents argue that stablecoins offer an efficient way to digitize traditional currency, enabling faster payments, widening access to financial services, and reinforcing U.S. dollar supremacy globally. However, the idea isn’t universally embraced.
Tensions are rising within the banking sector, where some fear that interest-bearing stablecoins could siphon off deposits and disrupt the traditional lending model. At a recent blockchain summit, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand voiced concerns that such products could undermine local banks that rely on consumer deposits for loan issuance.
Financial experts like NYU professor Austin Campbell warn that opposing stablecoin innovation mainly benefits the entrenched banking elite. He criticized efforts to restrict yield-bearing tokens as anti-competitive and anti-consumer.
Despite the friction, Santander’s potential entry into the stablecoin arena underscores a growing recognition that digital finance is no longer optional—it’s inevitable.
HSBC took a major step in digital currency innovation by concluding experimental trials under the HKMA’s Project e-HKD+.
Ant Group’s international arm, backed by Alibaba founder Jack Ma, is preparing to integrate Circle’s USDC stablecoin into its proprietary blockchain payment network.
Emirates Airline has taken a bold step toward embracing digital finance by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with leading cryptocurrency platform Crypto.com.
Volkswagen’s autonomous driving division, Volkswagen ADMT, has announced a data-sharing partnership with Bee Maps, a cutting-edge spatial intelligence service built on the Solana blockchain.