Opinion

Why the First US Crypto Bank Is a Big Deal

Kraken became the first crypto exchange to win a U.S. banking license this week. Here’s why that matters.

By Nathaniel WhittemoreLayer 2

Sep 19, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. UTCUpdated Sep 14, 2021 at 9:58 a.m. UTC

Breakdown 9.19 — (KevinAlexanderGeorge/iStock via Getty Images Plus)

By Nathaniel WhittemoreLayer 2

Sep 19, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. UTCUpdated Sep 14, 2021 at 9:58 a.m. UTC

Nathaniel Whittemore

Kraken became the first crypto exchange to win a U.S. banking license this week. Here’s why that matters.

For more episodes and free early access before our regular daily releases, subscribe with Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcasts, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher, RadioPublica, iHeartRadio or RSS.

This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io.

On this edition of The Breakdown weekly recap, NLW looks at:

DEXetition – Uniswap’s battle with SushiSwap heats up as the former dropped the UNI governance token in what some likened to a crypto stimulus check
The Fed has no clothes – After another FOMC meeting of “nothing new,” the mirage of Federal Reserve omnipotence is fading
TikTok and WeChat banned from U.S. app stores – Is it just a negotiating technique? Whatever the case, people are not happy
Kraken becomes a bank – What it means now that Kraken has been approved for a Wyoming Special Purpose Depository Institution charter

This week on The Breakdown:

Monday | The Business of Geopolitical Competition

Tuesday | The Decade of the Living Dead: How Zombie Companies Are Robbing Tomorrow’s Economy

Wednesday | Governments vs. Networks: The Battle for the Soul of Finance

Thursday | Monetary Policy Is Finished and Macro Debates Are Boring, Feat. Raoul Pal

Friday | ‘I Didn’t Buy It to Sell It. Ever.’ MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor on His $425M Bitcoin Bet

For more episodes and free early access before our regular daily releases, subscribe with Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcasts, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher, RadioPublica, iHeartRadio or RSS.

DISCLOSURE

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG.