39-State BankChain Alliance Plans U.S — 2026-08-26

## Short Segments Shinhan Financial Group partners with Visa to advance stablecoin payments infrastructure. Today, we're diving into Shinhan Financial's strategic move with Visa to build a stablecoin payment infrastructure, Miracle Pay's new partnership to enable stablecoin payments for U.S. merchants, Revolut's phased rollout of its euro-pegged stablecoin in Europe, and Japan's plans for a blockchain-based stock settlement system. Later, we'll explore the ambitious 39-state BankChain Alliance aiming to revolutionize U.S. banking with blockchain by 2027. Shinhan Financial Group has signed a strategic agreement with Visa to develop a stablecoin payment infrastructure. This collaboration will focus on stablecoin issuance, transfers, and redemption using Visa's infrastructure, aiming to create a Korea-specific stablecoin model. The partnership also explores AI-powered payments and business transactions, marking a significant step in integrating digital assets into mainstream financial services. For Shinhan Financial, this means leveraging Visa's global reach to enhance its digital payment capabilities, potentially transforming how transactions are conducted in South Korea. Miracle Pay partners with zerohash to enable stablecoin payments for U.S. merchants. Miracle Pay has announced a partnership with zerohash, an onchain infrastructure provider, to facilitate stablecoin payments for U.S. merchants. This integration aims to bring digital assets into everyday commerce, offering merchants a seamless way to accept stablecoin payments. By incorporating stablecoin-backed card programs and direct point-of-sale acceptance, Miracle Pay is positioning itself at the forefront of the digital payment revolution. This move could significantly impact how merchants handle transactions, making digital currencies more accessible and practical for everyday use. Revolut begins phased EURR stablecoin rollout in Denmark, Poland, and Portugal. Revolut has started rolling out its first euro-pegged stablecoin, EURR, to customers in Denmark, Poland, and Portugal. This launch marks Revolut's entry into the stablecoin market, traditionally dominated by dollar tokens. Designed to maintain a value of €1.00, EURR is backed by reserves managed by an EU-licensed issuer. As Revolut expands its stablecoin offerings, it could reshape the European digital currency landscape, providing a new alternative for euro-denominated transactions. Japan to work on blockchain-based stock settlement system, details expected early 2027. Japan is preparing to develop a blockchain-based settlement system for stocks and bonds, aiming for a launch in the early 2030s. The initiative involves the Financial Services Agency, the Ministry of Finance, and the Bank of Japan, focusing on enabling instantaneous settlement of transactions. This move is part of Japan's broader effort to modernize its financial infrastructure and prevent capital flight. If successful, it could position Japan as a leader in blockchain-based financial systems, offering faster and more secure transaction settlements. ## Feature Story Thirty-nine U.S. state banking associations have announced the formation of the BankChain Alliance, aiming to build a nationwide blockchain network for banks by 2027. This ambitious project seeks to create an industry-owned blockchain system to support tokenized deposits, stablecoins, smart payments, and automated settlement. The alliance, representing thousands of banks, intends to provide secure, modern banking services across financial institutions of all sizes. By selecting a technology partner, the alliance plans to launch a common blockchain platform that allows banks to offer a wide range of digital financial services without relying on separate proprietary infrastructure. This initiative is one of the most expansive efforts to integrate blockchain technology into the U.S. banking system, potentially transforming how banks operate and interact with digital assets. The BankChain Alliance's goal is to enable banks, regardless of size, to participate in the digital economy, preserving local lending while offering modern payment services. As the alliance moves forward, it will be crucial to watch how it navigates regulatory challenges and technological hurdles to achieve its 2027 launch target. If successful, the BankChain Alliance could set a precedent for other industries looking to leverage blockchain technology for shared infrastructure, potentially reshaping the financial landscape in the United States.