This week, the International Monetary Fund issued a report acknowledging the rapid growth of the stablecoin industry, already worth over $300B, and lauding its future potential to expedite international payments for consumers, while cautioning that its adoption should be guided by a globally aligned regulatory framework to mitigate the risks of cross-border financial crime.
Next, the chief of US Comptroller of the Currency pushed back against traditional financial institutions’ hesitance in welcoming crypto businesses to apply for bank charters, stating that rejuvenating the application process is a “key priority” for his office.
Lastly, Italy’s financial watchdog, the National Commission for Companies and the Stock Exchange, has tightened its licensing requirements for MiCA regulationfor crypto platforms, imposing a hard deadline of December 30, 2025, for obtaining proper licensing or shutting down their operations.
To learn more, read on.
IMF heralds $308B stablecoin industry’s global potential but warns of cross-border financial crime risks
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) outlined its revised stance on stablecoin adoption in a report issued on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
It acknowledged the $300B-plus stablecoin industry’s potential to revolutionize international payments by making them faster and cheaper, while expanding access to digital finance.
The IMF’s shift in tone regarding stablecoins comes as adoption accelerates across emerging markets and regulated issuers integrate with existing financial systems.
The IMF’s new position aligns with a global surge in institutional confidence about stablecoins, with US policy makers being particularly vocal. As recently as November 2025, the US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, projected that the market could reach $3Tn by 2030 (up 50% from his previous estimate of $2Tn), while being essential to how the US will manage foreign sovereign debt in the future.
However, the IMF also cautioned that regulatory challenges and financial crime risks will continue to plague the rapidly growing industry.
It advocated for globally coordinated financial frameworks to prevent regulatory arbitrage and legal fragmentation, noting that “without consistent cross-border rules, stablecoin issuers could exploit legal loopholes and operate beyond the reach of national authorities.”
Why this matters:
The IMF’s qualified endorsement of stablecoins both validates their future potential and highlights the incoming increase in regulatory oversight. Stablecoin issuers and their compliance teams worldwide will have to take proactive steps to adhere to universal cross-border standards and navigate closing jurisdictional loopholes.
Read more on Yahoo Finance.
US OCC wants to ‘reinvigorate’ crypto firms’ trust charter applications in the face of traditional banks’ hesitance
The Chief of the US Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Jonathan V. Gould, delivered his remarks at the Blockchain Association Policy Summit, held in Washington, DC, from December 8 to 9, 2025.
He defended the expansion of digital asset banking against resistance from some quarters of the traditional banking sector, warning that by blocking crypto trust, bank charters could stifle innovation.
Gould emphasized that national banks are developing innovative crypto-related products and services on a near-daily basis, adding that he was confident his office could adequately supervise new entrants. He also revealed that the OCC had received 14 charter applications in 2025 alone, predominantly from digital asset and fintech firms.
The Trump administration’s regulatory approach has shifted dramatically from its earlier aversion to crypto banking, by recently granting Erebor provisional charter status, making it the first such award under Gould’s leadership.
Before this development, Anchorage Digital stood as the US’s sole OCC-licensed crypto bank. He also announced impending reviews of banks’ debanking practices affecting crypto businesses, urging the financial system to embrace blockchain technology as a natural evolution, stating that the national economic framework must “evolve from the telegraph to the blockchain.”
Why this matters:
The OCC’s support for crypto bank charters will provide them with regulatory legitimacy and access to banking infrastructure that crypto businesses have previously struggled to obtain. Gould’s commitment to reviewing debanking practices and approving new charters should encourage digital finance industry role players in the US as mainstream integration into the financial ecosystem looks a step closer.
Read more on Coindesk.
Italy regulator warns VASPs to get proper MiCA licenses by December 30, 2025, or face shut down
Italy’s National Commission for Companies and the Stock Exchange (CONSOB) issued its stern ultimatum to Virtual and Crypto Asset Service Providers (VASPS and CASPs) on December 4, 2025.
They must ensure that they are appropriately licensed under the new MiCA regulations or cease Italian operations entirely. Companies currently operating under Italy’s simple Body of Agents and Mediators (OAM) registration system must either apply for full VASP authorization or shut down and return all customer assets, including crypto and funds.
Platforms that submit license applications by the deadline will receive temporary operating permission until June 30, 2026, during the review process.
Non-compliant companies face strict requirements, including termination of customer contracts, return of crypto assets and funds, and posting public closure notices on their websites.
Italy’s accelerated timeline contrasts sharply with other EU member states offering transitions ranging from five to eighteen months. This approach aims to rapidly clarify Italy’s cryptocurrency market landscape, although industry experts anticipate market consolidation, as smaller firms may exit rather than invest heavily in compliance infrastructure. CONSOB and the Bank of Italy will share supervisory responsibilities under the new framework.
Why this matters:
If VASPs operating in Italy fail to submit their MiCAauthorization applications by the required deadline, investors face significant risks, including potential loss of service continuity and restricted access to their crypto assets. To prevent these outcomes, compliance and management teams must act swiftly to complete their filings.
