Banks and fintech companies are accelerating mergers and acquisitions of digital assets, with Citizens Bank predicting increased industry consolidation.

According to Mars Finance, market sources indicate that a recent research report from Citizens Bank shows that mergers and acquisitions in the digital asset industry are accelerating and are expected to speed up further. With the passage of the GENIUS Act (stablecoin rules) and the anticipated rollout of the CLARITY Act (market structure), the US regulatory environment has shifted from "hostile" to supportive, prompting banks, payment processors, and asset management companies to actively integrate blockchain infrastructure. The report points out that Mastercard is in talks to acquire ZeroHash for up to $2 billion, and Coinbase is close to completing a similar-sized acquisition of London-based BVNK. Technological complexity, talent shortages, and compliance requirements make acquisitions the most practical expansion path for traditional institutions. The market capitalization of stablecoins has increased from $250 billion in mid-year to approximately $315 billion and is projected to exceed $1 trillion. Citizens Bank predicts that by 2030, the tokenization market could generate nearly $100 billion in annual revenue, including trading, custody, and data services.