Major US banks team up to build blockchain system for instant money transfers, competing with stablecoins.
Image source: CoinDesk
America's biggest banks are joining forces to create their own digital money system to compete with popular cryptocurrencies.
What's Happening: JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup are building a new network that will let people send money instantly, 24/7. This system, launching in 2027, will use blockchain technology (the same tech behind Bitcoin) but will be controlled by banks instead of being open like cryptocurrencies.
Why Banks Are Worried: Banks are concerned about stablecoins (digital coins that always equal $1) like USDC and USDT. These coins are becoming popular because: • They work 24/7, unlike traditional bank transfers • People can send money globally in seconds • They're easier to use for online payments
If too many people switch from regular bank accounts to stablecoins, banks could lose billions in deposits (money customers keep in their accounts).
What This Means: The new bank network will offer the same benefits as stablecoins - instant transfers and 24/7 availability - but keep the money within the traditional banking system. Think of it as banks creating their own version of Venmo or PayPal, but using blockchain to make it faster and always available.
The Bottom Line: This shows how seriously traditional banks are taking the crypto threat. They're adopting the technology that makes cryptocurrencies useful while trying to maintain control over the financial system.
This is an AI-generated summary. Read the original article at: https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/06/06/america-s-largest-banks-are-building-a-new-digital-currency-network-to-stop-a-massive-deposit-drain