Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure firm acquired by Stripe, has applied for a national bank trust charter with the OCC, expanding the roster of cryptocurrency firms seeking charters under the newly enacted Genius Act. While the charter would enable custody and management of stablecoin reserves, it would not permit lending or taking insured deposits. The application reflects a significant shift towards federal recognition of stablecoin infrastructure, although there is opposition from traditional banking groups.

Stripe is developing a high-performance blockchain named "Tempo" to enhance its crypto offerings, particularly in the realm of stablecoins, which promise to make global payments faster and cheaper. However, this shift towards branded blockchain solutions raises concerns about potential market concentration and the erosion of the open, decentralized ethos that crypto originally aimed to uphold. The ongoing conflict between centralization and decentralization in technology may shape the future landscape of payments and financial services.

The article discusses the implications of Stripe's acquisition of Bridge for the fintech industry and the role of stablecoins. It analyzes how this move may influence market dynamics, regulatory considerations, and the future of financial transactions. The acquisition is positioned as a significant step in enhancing the capabilities of digital payments and cryptocurrency integration.

Stripe and OpenAI have launched the Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP), enabling merchants to sell through AI agents like ChatGPT, significantly enhancing conversion rates. This new approach allows for easy integration without changing existing tech stacks, facilitating a seamless checkout process directly within chat platforms. Additionally, Nubank is applying for a US national bank charter, and Brex has introduced stablecoin functionalities.

Stripe is developing a new blockchain called Tempo, which focuses on payments and is being built in collaboration with Paradigm. This layer 1 blockchain aims to enhance Stripe's capabilities in the growing stablecoin market, following recent acquisitions that strengthen its crypto infrastructure. The job posting for a marketing position related to Tempo has since been removed after inquiries from Fortune.