In a presentation to investors Wednesday, the global financial-services giant said it was focusing on three key areas related to crypto: buying the currency and spending it; services such as security and custody; and network access, including stablecoins and central-bank digital currencies. (The Logic)

Talking point: Mastercard is getting serious about crypto. In February, the company announced plans to accept digital currencies that meet its regulatory and reliability standards. On Monday, it announced partnerships with three Asia-Pacific companies aimed at making it easier for businesses and consumers to use crypto-linked credit and debit cards. Not to be outdone, competitor Visa spent US$150,000 on a CryptoPunk in August, a type of NFT that has become a status symbol in the crypto world. It’s easy to forget what a major shift this represents over the past year alone, with mainstream financial institutions piling into a sector they once steered well clear of.