TechFlow news, October 30 — According to CoinDesk, a recent research report from Citizens Bank of the United States reveals that merger and acquisition (M&A) activities in the digital asset industry are accelerating and expected to further speed up. With the passage of the GENIUS Act (stablecoin regulation) and the anticipated introduction of the CLARITY Act (market structure), the U.S. regulatory environment has shifted from "hostile" to supportive, driving banks, payment processors, and asset management firms to actively integrate blockchain infrastructure.
The report notes that Mastercard is negotiating to acquire ZeroHash for up to $2 billion, while Coinbase is nearing completion of a similarly sized acquisition of London-based BVNK. Technical complexity, talent shortages, and compliance requirements make acquisitions the most practical expansion path for traditional institutions.
Stablecoin market capitalization has grown from $250 billion at mid-year to approximately $315 billion, and is projected to surpass $1 trillion. Citizens Bank forecasts that by 2030, the tokenized market could generate nearly $100 billion in annual revenue from trading, custody, and data services.
