AI is moving beyond answering questions and starting to take action. Mercury launches conversational banking, Anthropic urges banks to delegate work to AI agents, and Visa-backed infrastructure is giving autonomous systems the ability to transact. We break down how agentic finance is taking shape—and who’s building the rails behind it.

Robinhood proves disciplined growth still wins, Current keeps its growth streak alive, and Cash App turns payments and mobile service into one ecosystem. Plus, we explore the comeback of old-school fraud and Coinbase’s bold move to bring AI deeper into investing. Fintech keeps getting more connected and a lot more interesting.

Crypto is getting more practical. Ripple launches a toolkit that lets AI agents make payments on the XRP Ledger, while Crypto.com and Yuno bring crypto checkout to hundreds of thousands of merchants with instant fiat settlement and no volatility risk for businesses. We also break down the future of agentic payments, Figure’s acquisition of Kiavi, Adyen’s push into real-time billing, the latest CFPB leadership shakeup, and why fintech infrastructure is rapidly evolving to support an AI- and crypto-powered economy.

AI agents are moving from assistants to economic actors. This week, Mastercard launches Agent Pay for Machines, Coinbase gives AI agents the ability to trade and transact, Ramp hits a $44 billion valuation on the back of AI spend management, and crypto-backed credit cards take another step toward the mainstream. We also break down Quill Bank’s fintech-focused rebrand, the latest Visa-Mastercard merchant fee settlement, and why banks are pushing the SEC to rethink cyber disclosure rules in the age of AI.

Fintech innovation is showing up everywhere—from physical payment devices to tax policy. Cash App launches a tap-to-pay NFC wand, Revolut explores a secondary sale that could value the company at $115 billion, and Airwallex expands deeper into finance automation with its acquisition of Leapfin. We also unpack the sentencing of Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg and examine a new package of congressional crypto tax proposals that could make staking, stablecoins, and everyday digital asset transactions far easier to navigate.

AI is rapidly changing the rules of banking. The ECB warns that AI-powered attacks are shrinking cybersecurity response times, while Bandsaw AI explains why implementation - not access - will determine which banks actually benefit from the AI revolution. We also unpack Ramp’s $44 billion AI-fueled growth, Kalshi’s approval to launch Bitcoin perpetual futures, and why JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citi, and Wells Fargo are building tokenized deposits to defend against the rise of stablecoins.

Wall Street, prediction markets, and crypto all faced pivotal moments this week. Jamie Dimon says JPMorgan could deploy up to $20 billion on the right acquisition, regulators bring another insider trading case tied to Polymarket, and the battle over who controls and taxes prediction markets intensifies. Meanwhile, Grayscale hits pause on IPO plans, FalconX quietly moves toward the public markets, and Tether’s U.S. stablecoin posts eye-catching growth.

AI is coming for your wallet - in a good way. Robinhood rolls out agentic trading and AI-powered payments, SoFi launches its own stablecoin while expanding its lending infrastructure, and Mastercard quietly strengthens its crypto rails with a fresh BitLicense approval. We unpack how fintech’s biggest players are racing to blend AI, blockchain, and banking into one seamless money experience - and why regulators are scrambling to keep up.

Intuit pushes back on the “AI killed jobs” narrative, Mercury raises fresh capital while chasing its own bank charter, and Washington signals a friendlier future for fintech access to Fed payment rails. We also unpack why Blockchain.com quietly filing for an IPO could be a major clue about where crypto markets head next.

Wise plants its flag on Nasdaq, Polymarket opens private-market speculation to everyday traders, and Kraken makes a surprising push toward becoming a regulated bank. Meanwhile, crypto IPO dreams cool off as AI steals Wall Street’s spotlight, and Washington’s latest crypto bill leaves DeFi builders reading the fine print. We break down what it all means for the future of money - and who’s gaining power as finance keeps evolving.