Fintech’s juggling regulation, growth, and global ambition. Trump’s pick for Fed chair sparks debate on rates and digital dollars, SoFi posts a crypto-fueled earnings blowout, a Chicago bank becomes 2026’s first failure, Seis winds down, and Stripe supercharges global checkout with BigCommerce. We break down what it all means for banks, builders, and the future of money — cheers to staying ahead.