The Cross Border Report Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:16:41 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2626838 en-us © 2026 The Cross Border Report yes 5052a1d5-9577-5a59-ad24-dd8888ad0d73 by Brad Gullett episodic false Exploring how technology, regulation, risk and financial infrastructure are reshaping global finance. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) by Brad Gullett https://storage.buzzsprout.com/qlvma10chrmgq36t1ddx15z1pyc3?.jpg The Cross Border Report https://www.buzzsprout.com/2626838 Fintechs Want Bank Charters: The Risks Behind the Shift Fintechs Want Bank Charters: The Risks Behind the Shift Fintechs and digital asset companies are seeking a more direct role in the U.S. banking system. From Revolut and Coinbase to Circle and Ripple, recent bank charter applications highlight a broader shift at the intersection of traditional banking, digital assets, and financial infrastructure.

We explore what's driving this trend and the key risks and considerations that regulators, financial institutions, and market participants should be watching.

]]> Fintechs and digital asset companies are seeking a more direct role in the U.S. banking system. From Revolut and Coinbase to Circle and Ripple, recent bank charter applications highlight a broader shift at the intersection of traditional banking, digital assets, and financial infrastructure.

We explore what's driving this trend and the key risks and considerations that regulators, financial institutions, and market participants should be watching.

]]> by Brad Gullett Buzzsprout-19936252 Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0400 694 1 7 full false Iran, Crypto, and Sanctions Evasion Iran, Crypto, and Sanctions Evasion Crypto has become an increasingly important part of the global financial system - but it is also being used to facilitate sanctions evasion and illicit finance. In this episode, I examine recent cases involving Iran, Binance, and other crypto networks. 

]]> Crypto has become an increasingly important part of the global financial system - but it is also being used to facilitate sanctions evasion and illicit finance. In this episode, I examine recent cases involving Iran, Binance, and other crypto networks. 

]]> by Brad Gullett Buzzsprout-19901371 Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:00:00 -0400 438 1 6 full false Payments Innovation: Faster, Smarter...and Riskier? Payments Innovation: Faster, Smarter...and Riskier? Payments are changing faster than ever. From real-time payments and account-to-account networks to stablecoins, blockchain, tokenization, and atomic settlement, innovations around the world are beginning to reshape how money moves.

In this episode, I start with Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid's warning that payment innovation could be highly disruptive, then take a high-level look at six major themes driving change in payments. I close with six key risks that accompany this transformation, from fraud and financial crime to liquidity, cyber, operational, concentration, and regulatory risks.

The question isn't simply whether payments can become faster and more efficient. It's whether our risk and regulatory frameworks can keep pace.

]]> Payments are changing faster than ever. From real-time payments and account-to-account networks to stablecoins, blockchain, tokenization, and atomic settlement, innovations around the world are beginning to reshape how money moves.

In this episode, I start with Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid's warning that payment innovation could be highly disruptive, then take a high-level look at six major themes driving change in payments. I close with six key risks that accompany this transformation, from fraud and financial crime to liquidity, cyber, operational, concentration, and regulatory risks.

The question isn't simply whether payments can become faster and more efficient. It's whether our risk and regulatory frameworks can keep pace.

]]> by Brad Gullett Buzzsprout-19826343 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0400 671 1 5 full false UBS, Wise, and Why Compliance Debt Eventually Comes Due UBS, Wise, and Why Compliance Debt Eventually Comes Due What happens when financial institutions grow and innovate faster than their compliance infrastructure can keep up? In this episode of The Cross Border Report, we examine the concept of “compliance debt” - the accumulated risks created when technology, data, processes, governance, and regulatory controls fail to evolve alongside the business.

Using UBS’s $125 million AML penalty and Wise’s denied U.S. bank charter application as case studies, we explore how compliance debt can eventually come due in very different ways: through enforcement actions, costly remediation, regulatory constraints, or lost opportunities. As fintech and financial infrastructure continue to evolve, the lesson is increasingly clear: innovation may create the opportunity, but sustainable growth requires the risk infrastructure to keep pace.

]]> What happens when financial institutions grow and innovate faster than their compliance infrastructure can keep up? In this episode of The Cross Border Report, we examine the concept of “compliance debt” - the accumulated risks created when technology, data, processes, governance, and regulatory controls fail to evolve alongside the business.

Using UBS’s $125 million AML penalty and Wise’s denied U.S. bank charter application as case studies, we explore how compliance debt can eventually come due in very different ways: through enforcement actions, costly remediation, regulatory constraints, or lost opportunities. As fintech and financial infrastructure continue to evolve, the lesson is increasingly clear: innovation may create the opportunity, but sustainable growth requires the risk infrastructure to keep pace.

]]> by Brad Gullett Buzzsprout-19716238 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400 832 1 4 full false The CLARITY Act: Building the Next Generation of Financial Infrastructure The CLARITY Act: Building the Next Generation of Financial Infrastructure The United States is taking major steps toward establishing a regulatory framework for digital assets. In this episode of The Cross Border Report, we briefly examine the GENIUS Act and the emerging framework for regulating payment stablecoins before taking a deeper look at the pending CLARITY Act and what it could mean for the future of digital assets and financial markets.

]]> The United States is taking major steps toward establishing a regulatory framework for digital assets. In this episode of The Cross Border Report, we briefly examine the GENIUS Act and the emerging framework for regulating payment stablecoins before taking a deeper look at the pending CLARITY Act and what it could mean for the future of digital assets and financial markets.

]]> by Brad Gullett Buzzsprout-19555463 Mon, 27 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0400 979 1 3 full false The Digital Euro: Key Risks, Challenges, and Strategic Considerations The Digital Euro: Key Risks, Challenges, and Strategic Considerations The digital euro is moving from concept toward implementation, bringing new opportunities - and new challenges - for financial institutions, payment providers, and consumers. In this episode, we examine the key risks and strategic considerations surrounding the digital euro, including privacy, transaction fees, bank deposits, and the implications for the broader CBDC landscape. 

]]> The digital euro is moving from concept toward implementation, bringing new opportunities - and new challenges - for financial institutions, payment providers, and consumers. In this episode, we examine the key risks and strategic considerations surrounding the digital euro, including privacy, transaction fees, bank deposits, and the implications for the broader CBDC landscape. 

]]> by Brad Gullett Buzzsprout-19475068 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:00:00 -0400 455 1 2 full false Can Wyoming Pull Off a State-Issued Stablecoin? Risks, Challenges & What to Watch Can Wyoming Pull Off a State-Issued Stablecoin? Risks, Challenges & What to Watch Key questions and considerations surrounding the first stablecoin issued by a U.S. state

]]> Key questions and considerations surrounding the first stablecoin issued by a U.S. state

]]> by Brad Gullett Buzzsprout-19407326 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0400 332 1 1 full false