AI & Finance News — 2026-09-30 (Wed) Evening News

Overview

BlackRock has launched a “machine-native economy” initiative that combines AI agents with stablecoins, and Robinhood has expanded its AI trading agents to retail investors (The Defiant, Benzinga). The SEC has moved to crack down on investment fraud involving AI and crypto assets, and discussions are progressing in the banking world about countering AI-based voice and face forgery and strengthening regulatory oversight (Law360, PYMNTS.com).

Bank trends

Banks are reviewing their identity verification procedures in response to the rise in AI-based voice and facial impersonation fraud (PYMNTS.com). Goldman Sachs is positioned as a key player in investments related to the AI boom (thebanker.com). Thought Machine has teamed up with AWS to support core banking migration using AI (IBS Intelligence). The Financial Brand points to the need for "realistic guardrails" to maintain confidence while limiting risk.

Insurance trends

According to a KPMG study, not a single insurance company has restructured its distribution and sales structure around AI (Insurance Business). A judge in the U.S. state of Georgia has raised suspicions about AI abuse in a lawsuit over plumbing insurance (Law360). Nvidia is said to be exploring the use of insurance companies to reduce the risk of financing AI chips (Yahoo Finance).

Trends in asset management and market transactions

BlackRock has expressed the view that stablecoins have the potential to support AI agent payments and that AI agents could become an “overlooked source” of crypto demand (The Defiant, Investing Live). Robinhood opens up hedge fund tools to retail investors as an AI trading agent and also adds new event contracts (Benzinga, Barron's). In comparison to the AI market, Reuters reported the view of market participants that ``the bond market is larger than AI.''

Fintech/payment trends

PYMNTS.com points out that the next focus for AI payments is "knowing when not to pay." The ECB is considering connecting the digital euro and AI agents (Cointribune). Visa has open sourced its AI cyber defense tools (opensourceforu.com). Zscaler reports that AI-assisted attackers are expanding their tactics to steal data, target executives, and demand large ransoms (The Manila Times).

Remarks from key figures and authorities in the financial world

There are no articles under the headings of this list that report directly on the statements or actions of persons on the VIP list (Jamie Dimon, Larry Fink, Jane Fraser, David Solomon, Brian Moynihan, Ted Pick, Ken Griffin, Paul Atkins). There are reports regarding BlackRock (stablecoin/AI agent predictions), but it is not mentioned as a personal statement by Larry Fink.

Trends in AI-related stocks and funding

It was reported that three stocks related to semiconductor equipment have exceeded the market capitalization of $1 trillion (Investor's Business Daily). OpenAI is said to be considering raising $30 billion in funding at a valuation of $1.4 trillion (qz.com). AI startup EliseAI raises $350 million, doubling its valuation to $4 billion (Pluang). Anthropic was reported to have posted losses of over $40 billion in the previous year in IPO documents (Mashable SEA). The Nikkei Stock Average rose mainly in AI-related stocks due to the rise in US semiconductor stocks (Finimize).

Trends in financial regulation and supervision

The SEC has filed charges against Cryptoaiml and TSAI for approximately $15 million in fraud by falsely claiming AI trading (The Defiant, Cryptonews.net). The Financial Services Agency has launched an ``AI chief inspector'' concept to strengthen its inspection system following a series of scandals (Asahi Shimbun). South Korea is considering revising its 30-year-old consent rules to adapt to the AI era (IT조선).

Integrated analysis: What is happening now

In the area of asset management and market trading, BlackRock and Robinhood are showing moves to position AI agents as agents of new capital circulation such as crypto assets, stable coins, and individual trading, and it appears that tools for institutional investors are being released to individual investors. On the other hand, in the banking, insurance, and payment fields, there is a parallel need for AI-based defense against identity fraud and increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks, and risks may be concentrated mainly in the areas of identity verification, fraud detection, and data theft. Regulatory authorities appear to be moving in two directions: cracking down on fraud that misuses AI and establishing a system to supervise the use of AI itself, as seen in the SEC's cases of fraud and the Financial Services Agency's plan to strengthen its inspection system. As semiconductor and AI companies continue to raise huge amounts of funding (OpenAI, Anthropic, EliseAI), as the KPMG survey shows, AI implementation in the insurance industry may be ahead of the hype and the reality may not be catching up, and there appears to be a gap between where funds are concentrated (semiconductor/major AI companies) and where implementation is delayed (insurance/traditional finance).

Future points of interest

- How Robinhood's expansion of AI trading agents will affect individual investors' trading behavior and risk - Will the SEC continue to detect AI-related investment fraud and how will the regulatory framework take shape? - How will the Financial Services Agency's "AI Chief Inspector" concept be reflected in the actual inspection system?