Integrating Financial Technology Innovation Into Regulatory Frameworks

This executive order directs federal financial regulators to review and streamline regulations to facilitate fintech innovation and partnerships with traditional financial institutions. It also requests the Federal Reserve to evaluate expanding access to Federal Reserve payment services for uninsured depository institutions and non-bank financial companies, including digital asset firms.

Federal Register Open PDF 91 FR 30475

Impact dates

Sep 16, 2026In 27d
Federal Reserve submits report on payment account access evaluation
Nov 15, 2026
Federal financial regulators take steps to encourage innovation after consultation
Date TBD
Federal Reserve to make determinations on complete payment access applications
Aug 17, 20263d ago
Federal financial regulators complete review of existing regulations, guidance, and supervisory practices

Market exposure

Policy exposure mapping — not investment advice. Illustrative public companies are incomplete and not recommendations.

Sectors

Banking & finance Technology & software

Mechanisms

LicensingProcurement

Role pressure

ProtectiveDomestic producer — Fintech firms gain streamlined pathways to partnerships, charters, and potentially Federal Reserve payment access, reducing incumbent bank advantages
MixedDownstream manufacturer — Traditional federally regulated institutions may face increased competition from fintech partners but also gain collaboration opportunities
UncertainImporter — Non-bank financial companies including digital asset firms could gain payment system access, but legal impediments may block this

Geographies

Illustrative public companies

Curated watchlist matches by sector/role — incomplete; not a recommendation.

GOOGLAlphabetAAPLAppleBACBank of AmericaBLKBlackRockGSGoldman SachsHSBCHSBCQQQInvesco QQQ TrustJPMJPMorgan ChaseMETAMeta PlatformsMSFTMicrosoftNVDANVIDIAORCLOracleSPYSPDR S&P 500 ETF

Confidence: medium · Policy alerts

Key directives

Federal financial regulators must review regulations within 90 days to identify barriers to fintech partnerships and streamline charter/licensing applications
Federal financial regulators must take innovation-encouraging steps within 180 days after consultation with Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
Federal Reserve requested to evaluate legal framework for payment account access by uninsured depository institutions and non-bank financial companies within 120 days
Federal Reserve requested to establish transparent application procedures and 90-day decision timeline for payment access if legally permitted

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Federal financial regulators begin 90-day review of existing regulations and supervisory practices
Federal Reserve begins 120-day evaluation of payment account access framework

Near term (90d)

Federal financial regulators complete initial review of regulations impeding fintech partnerships and charter applications
Federal Reserve submits report on payment account access findings and recommendations

Long term

Federal financial regulators take steps to encourage innovation following 180-day deadline
Potential establishment of transparent application procedures for Federal Reserve payment services access if legally permitted

Risks & tensions

Tension between innovation promotion and safety/soundness, consumer protection, financial stability safeguards explicitly acknowledged in text
Federal Reserve actions are framed as 'requested' rather than directed, creating uncertainty about binding force (Sec. 4 uses 'requested' while Sec. 3 uses 'shall')
Potential fragmentation if individual Federal Reserve Banks exercise independent authority on access decisions
'Balancing' language in Sec. 3(a) may dilute actual deregulatory impact
No enforcement mechanism if regulators find legal impediments preclude expanded access