It now lets users convert payments to Bitcoin, and it launched two products to let customers access third-party apps.

How should businesses view these global trends and events? How are behaviors and spending changing? In this report, Insider Intelligence analysts weigh in on the questions they’re being asked by both clients and the media about the shifting landscape in key areas like digital advertising, retail and ecommerce, and financial services.

Payment provider innovation across remittances, B2B payments, and retail card and noncard payments is setting a long-term growth runway. In the short term, providers must navigate a host of obstacles to enable more crypto users to become crypto payers—and so far they’re succeeding.

In 2021, cryptocurrency accounted for $6.10 billion worth of transactions worldwide, up 177.3% from $2.20 billion the year before. Come 2023, crypto transaction value will hit $16.16 billion as more businesses accept these digital currencies as payment.

More US consumers are buying things with crypto, and the window for early mover status is closing.

The metaverse is expected to be a major disruptor across industries, but it's still early days for the emerging realm. In this report, we look at how different markets are embarking on their own metaverse business models.

The launch is well-timed—crypto regulation is gaining momentum, which could alleviate a major adoption concern.

The FDIC wants insured banks to report their crypto actions, while states look to exempt companies in the space from certain regulations.

Bolt acquired crypto startup Wyre Payments to help it stand out in the highly competitive one-click checkout space.

The US challenger’s plan to mix decentralized finance with traditional banking in a “hybrid finance” approach could shore up its appeal to younger users.

Despite only holding about $9.1B in assets, the US bank has attracted big-name fintech clients and another funding round.

Despite the record-setting value and amount of venture capital deals for fintechs last year, momentum stalled during Q4. In Q1, investors appear more selective. 

NFTs come to the fore in China: However, the country’s regulatory scrutiny could add complexities to engaging with them.

Intel earns Nvidia’s vote as potential foundry partner: Future Intel chip fabs could boost capacity for GPUs and other chips, taking away TSMC and Samsung’s dominance and bringing production closer to home.

In the US, higher-income millennials are more likely to own cryptocurrency than their lower-earning peers. Some 61% of those making at least six figures per year own crypto, while just 25% of those earning less than $50,000 hold Bitcoin or the like. Gender plays a role as well—half of millennial men hold these digital currencies, while only one-fifth of women in that age group do so.

Chainalysis recommended steps for fighting sanctions evasion and long-term measures to revamp how the government addresses crypto-related crime.

The president’s sweeping order on digital assets calls for research into a CBDC.

Startup investment firm ​​Bain Capital Ventures launched a $560M fund focused exclusively on crypto projects.

Senior Democrat Ron Wyden warned excessively stringent regulation could stifle innovation.