A week after [Signature Bank closed](/news/article/why-signature-bank-fell-so-fast), Flagstar Bank, a New York Community Bank subsidiary, has agreed to purchase a huge chunk of the failed institution in a $2.7 billion deal.

According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), all of Signature Bank's 40 branches will operate as Flagstar Bank beginning Monday. Customers won't need to make any changes to conduct business with the new bank. 

## Flagstar bid excluded $4 billion crypto deposits

FDIC's 19 March [press statement](https://www.fdic.gov/news/press-releases/2023/pr23021.html) didn’t address the fate of the much larger [Silicon Valley Bank](/news/article/silicon-valley-bank-uk-to-be-bought-by-hsbc) (SVB) that the regulator took over two days before taking over Signature Bank.

The takeover deal includes purchasing Signature Bank's assets worth $38.4bn. SVB had $209 billion in assets compared to Signature Bank's $110.36 billion.

Per the announcement, the Flagstar takeover bid, which includes a $60 billion loan portfolio, excluded $4 billion associated with Signature's crypto banking business. Accordingly, crypto deposits will remain with the agency in receivership, and FDIC will provide [them directly to the customers](https://twitter.com/nic__carter/status/1637609420929597440) concerned.

The shutting down of Signature Bank came hot on the heels of the fall of the crypto-friendly [Silvergate Capital](/news/article/silvergate-bank-crisis-sees-crypto-tank) earlier in March and the 12 March closure of SVB, which previously caused [Circle’s](/news/article/circle-usdc) USDC to stumble and lose its peg to the US dollar. Commenting during a previous press interview, Circle's Chief Strategy Officer [Dante Disparte](https://forkast.news/video-audio/circles-disparte-crypto-banking-risks/) opined that the ongoing fallout was a stress test for traditional finance and emerging cryptocurrencies, presenting an opportunity for them to "weather the storm side by side".

## Traditional banks introducing risk to the crypto space

The unwillingness of Flagstar Bank to take over all of Signature Bank's assets, including the crypto-related ones, indicates that banks are becoming wary of taking on risk due to the spreading banking crisis.

The ongoing banking failures demonstrate that, contrary to what everyone else might have thought, traditional banks are now introducing risk to the crypto space. The current state of affairs is the opposite of the "travel risk" regulators routinely offered to would-be crypto investors on the risk that crypto would introduce to banking.

The back-to-back failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature sparked a nationwide fear that it could kick off a more significant crisis of confidence within the US banking system.

FDIC is looking to step in and save the situation by brokering sales to pay back the failed banks' depositors to more vital financial institutions.


Flagstar to Buy Signature's Non-Crypto Assets 

Circle Head of Global Policy and Chief Strategy Officer Dante Disparte said that the instability in the market over the past year might signify a shift in the technology to more stable and resilient businesses in the crypto 2023 market.

In a post for the World Economic Forum, Disparte highlighted the increasing use of cryptocurrencies in the financial industry and suggested that the ongoing bear market and problems with exchanges could ultimately result in the creation of a more responsible and reliable internet finance system.

He also pointed out that the cryptocurrency market's current situation may be similar to the dot-com bubble burst in the early 2000s, which resulted in the transfer of the future of the internet to more durable companies and use cases.

Disparte spoke from his position at Circle, the issuer of the USD Coin ([USDC](/news/article/usdc-coin-losses), a stablecoin tied to the US dollar. In addition, he is a member of WEF's Digital Currency Governance Consortium and a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

## Could we expect more stability in crypto 2023?

According to Disparte, despite the disastrous year for cryptocurrency, which he compares to a [crypto](/news/article/yield-farming-crypto) ice age rather than winter, cryptography and blockchain will remain an important part of the current economic landscape.

He stated that 2022 was a horrible year for cryptocurrency markets, with one of the most destructive bear markets ever recorded and the failure of several big platforms. 

[Despite](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2022-11-11/circle-s-disparte-on-crypto-crisis-video) these barriers, he believes that mainstream financial institutions will eventually migrate to cryptocurrencies because the technology remains a prominent participant in finance.

He added that it is important to pay attention to the actions of big banks and mature financial services firms rather than their words when understanding the staying power of digital assets and blockchain technology, asserting his bullish views for crypto 2023 technology.

Disparte's statements come amid a shift in attitude among some of the most vocal opponents of cryptocurrency, who have now started to embrace it. Despite being repeatedly declared as failed or deceased (Bitcoin Obituaries Archive says more than 460 times), [Bitcoin](/news/article/how-to-buy-bitcoin-uk) and other cryptocurrencies have continued to grow in popularity and become more widely accepted.

Furthermore, Disparte reinforced his viewpoint in a recent opinion post for the Diplomatic Courier, calling it "disingenuous" for bankers to bash Bitcoin with one hand while attempting to usurp its ideas with the other.


Crypto 2023: Circle CSO Makes Prediction

Circle, the company behind the US dollar-pegged stablecoin USDC, has added support for Apple Pay to integrate cryptocurrencies and established payment methods.

The company announced the news in a [blog post](https://www.circle.com/blog/apple-pay-is-now-available-on-circle) published on 15 November that stated merchants who accept USDC can now do so with the help of Apple Pay.

The addition will benefit crypto-native businesses by making it easier to accept payments while not excluding non-crypto customers. Furthermore, Circle stated that "traditional" businesses could use the enhancement to "shift more retail payments to digital currency".

According to reports, [Apple](/news/article/apple-crypto-and-nft-rules) Pay is the second most popular digital wallet in the United States, behind PayPal, with more than 1.8 billion active devices worldwide.

## Issuer of stablecoin Circle adds Apple Pay

Circle and Apple's collaboration will benefit cryptocurrency-native businesses that were initially only concerned with digital assets.

This step will assist them in utilising Apple Pay's payment platform. It will also function as a payment gateway for fiat users interested in experimenting with cryptocurrency payments.

The issuer of [stablecoin](/news/article/what-are-stablecoins) Circle stated that enabling this new feature is a quick and easy process with no hassle.
Merchants who meet the criteria can open a free Circle account and be added to an Apple developer account.

## Circle's similar initiatives

Circle has taken similar initiatives to provide its customers with more payment options.

In June, issuer of stablecoin Circle added support for Polygon [USDC](/news/article/usdc-coin-losses) to its payments and treasury platform, allowing developers to automate flows from fiat into Polygon USDC and swap it for native USDC across various blockchain networks.

At Converge22 in September 2022, the company announced plans to launch [USDC on five new networks](/news/article/circle-usdc) by the end of Q1 2023.

They announced that additional merchant services would enable vendors to accept cryptocurrency payments such as Ethereum (ETH) and Bitcoin (BTC). Other features to reduce checkout friction and improve the overall payment experience are also planned.

The issuer of stablecoin Circle also hinted that there could be future improvements.


Stablecoin Issuer Circle Adds Apple Pay

The approvals come after the Singapore Monetary Authority released two consultation papers proposing to lower regulatory barriers for [digital asset](/news/article/freeway-crypto-halts) service providers.

## How Circle and Paxos crypto firms received approval 

[Circle](https://www.circle.com/en/pressroom/circle-earns-in-principle-regulatory-approval-in-singapore) obtained in-principal permission for a Major Payments Institution License, which will let it issue cryptocurrency and deal with domestic and cross-border payments. At the same time, Paxos gained authorisation to provide digital payment token services. 

Circle and [Paxos](https://paxos.com/2022/11/02/paxos-secures-major-payments-institution-license-from-monetary-authority-of-singapore/) announced their approvals on November 2, only a week after the Monetary Authority of Singapore [(MAS) released two consultation papers](https://www.mas.gov.sg/news/media-releases/2022/mas-proposes-measures-to-reduce-risks-to-consumers-from-cryptocurrency-trading-and-enhance-standards-of-stablecoin-related-activities#:~:text=Singapore,%2026%20October%202022%E2%80%A6,in%20the%20digital%20asset%20ecosystem.) outlining suggestions for regulating digital payment token service providers and stablecoin issuers under Singapore's Payment Services Act (PSA). 

The Singapore Parliament enacted the PSA in 2019, which seeks to regulate payment systems and empowers the MAS to monitor the behaviour of payment service providers.

## What will Circle and Paxos crypto firms be able to do with approval

Circle, the creator of USD Coin ([UDSC](https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/usd-coin)), and Paxos, the creator of Pax Dollar (USDP), both US dollar-pegged stablecoins, will now have the approval to sell their stablecoins and digital payment token products in Singapore. 

Circle's Global Head of Public and Chief Strategy Officer, Dante Disparte, believes that the licence would increase the potential for cryptocurrencies and open payment systems to stimulate economic growth in Singapore under the more creative legal environment.

## Paxos crypto firms Asia CEO's view

We're happy to have MAS as our regulator. With their oversight, we'll be able to safely drive consumer adoption of digital assets internationally in conjunction with the world's largest corporations, said the Paxos Asia CEO, Rich Teo. 

While we remain to see how many other enterprises will follow in the footsteps of Circle and Paxos, the [regulatory](/news/article/pgi-global-closed) relaxation comes after MAS rejected over 100 out of 170 applicants in late 2021 under the stricter system.

Singapore is working hard to claim back its reputation as one of the most crypto-friendly countries. However, it remains cautious for individual investors, with Singapore's largest bank, [DBS, recently opting to limit its crypto trading services to approved investors who fulfil strict requirements.](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-23/singapore-s-dbs-expands-crypto-trading-for-wealthier-clients#:~:text=DBS%20Group%20Holdings%20Ltd.,%20Singapore's,said%20in%20a%20statement%20Friday.)


Circle and Paxos crypto approval in Singapore

The stablecoin, [Circle USDC](/coins/usdc), has [reported](https://www.circle.com/en/pressroom/circle-announces-next-wave-of-usdc-support-for-multi-chain-ecosystem) that it will be adding five new blockchains to its support network. [Circle Internet Financial](https://www.circle.com/en/) has taken the step to become a better multichain ecosystem. It plans to expand support to the [Polkadot](/news/tag/polkadot/2), Cosmos, Optimism, NEAR, and Arbitrum One networks. 

The firm first announced this on Wednesday at the Converge22 conference. Other than the [Cosmos network](/news/article/cosmos-crypto-explained), the stablecoin will be natively available on all others by the end of this year. Meanwhile, on the Cosmos network, it will be rolled out in 2023. 
 
![usdc circle.png](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/prod-monitalks-media/usdc_circle_8a290a8d4b.png)

## Product VP on the multichain expansion

At the event, the Vice President of stablecoin issuer's Product, Joao Reginatto, shared his thoughts on the multichain expansion. He mentioned that Circle's USDC support for numerous blockchains will allow "greater liquidity and interoperability within the crypto economy." 

Moreover, he also announced that Circle's USDC will now be available on thirteen blockchains with the addition of new blockchains to come. Previously, it only supported eight networks. 

Circle's Product VP was also optimistic that the expansion might lead to more innovation. Also, he said that the exchanges, developers, and other institutions will enjoy "easier access to a trusted and stable digital dollar."

## Competition among stablecoin issuers

Stablecoins are crypto tokens that are backed by a fiat currency. Usually, the US dollar is used for it. They are essential in bridging the gap between the crypto market and the traditional economy. Stablecoins account for a total of $150 billion in the crypto market. 

Circle Internet Financial is one of them that offers stablecoins pegged with USD and [EURO](/news/article/euro-coin). It competes with other industry giants like [Tether](https://tether.to/). The company is looking to capitalise on its market share by extending its multichain support. 




Circle USDC expands support to five new networks

The release of Euro Coin (EUROC) was announced by global fintech firm, Circle, on Thursday, June 16, 2022. Circle is the same firm that launched the [United States Dollar Coin (USDC)](/coins/usdc). Like USDC, Euro Coin will be a fully reserved, Euro-backed stablecoin. 

## How the Euro-backed stable coin works

The Euro Coin will function the same way as the Dollar Coin. Thus, 1 EUROC and 2 EUROC will be the equivalent of €1 and €2 respectively. 

As a regulated stablecoin, Euro Coin will be issued under the same full-reserve model of USDC. More importantly, the stablecoin was built on the same standards of security, transparency, and trust that have made USDC one of the most used digital currencies in the crypto finance space. 
 
Circle’s introduction of EUROC will help bridge traditional financial services and cryptocurrencies. Several businesses that do not have direct access to the Euro can use EUROC tokens as on-demand liquidity (ODL) to make and accept payments globally which settle in minutes.
 
Aside from this, the Euro Coins as a tradable token can be used to access crypto capital markets such as lending, borrowing, and trading. 

To ensure the security of the stablecoin to help prevent the ghosts of TerraUSD (UST), Circle has ensured that EUROC has 100% backing of euro-denominated reserves held conservatively in the custody of some of the leading institutions in the financial sector of the United States regulatory perimeter such as Silvergate Bank. 

Speaking on the [launch of EUROC](https://www.circle.com/en/pressroom/circle-announces-a-fully-reserved-euro-backed-stablecoin-euro-coin-euroc), co-founder and CEO of Circle, Jeremy Allaire said, “There is clear market demand for a digital currency denominated in Euros, the world’s second most traded currency after the U.S. dollar. With USDC and Euro Coin, Circle is helping to unlock a new era of fast, inexpensive, secure, and interoperable value exchange worldwide." 

Starting from June 30, EUROC will be made available to institutional clients through a free Circle Account. Uniswap, Huobi Global, Bitstamp, Curve, and Binance.US are among the exchanges that will be supporting the stablecoin. 

This will play an invaluable role in the lives of millions of people who would love to go about their financial lives with EUROC rather than USDC or other currency-backed stablecoins.


Latest Moni

Circle Crypto News

Read the latest Circle crypto news.

Flagstar to Buy Signature's Non-Crypto Assets

Crypto 2023: Circle CSO Makes Prediction

Stablecoin Issuer Circle Adds Apple Pay

Circle and Paxos crypto approval in Singapore

Circle USDC expands support to five new networks

Circle launches Euro Coin