DLT

Core Event: On March 3, 2026, Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed House Enrolled Act 1042 (HEA 1042) into law, establishing a comprehensive digital asset framework and mandating cryptocurrency investment options in select state-administered public retirement plans by July 1, 2027.[2][3][4][5][7] The law requires self-directed brokerage accounts with at least one cryptocurrency option (excluding payment stablecoins) in plans like Hoosier START (457(b)/401(a) deferred compensation), legislators’ defined contribution plan, and specified public employees’/teachers’ funds; boards set guidelines, valuations, and fees.[3][4][5][6][7] It also prohibits most state/local agencies (except Indiana Department of Financial Institutions) from restricting digital asset use as payment, self-custody in wallets, blockchain activities (e.g., nodes, staking, mining), or imposing unequal taxes/fees, while clarifying noncustodial software use isn't money transmission.[1][2][3][7]

DCP+ Podcast Episode 5 (Part 2) released on March 20, 2026, featuring Georgina Merhom discussing structural gaps in financial data ecosystems, data traceability, and evolving data ownership models in financial services. Hosted by Kaylee Cox Bankston and Boris Segalis from Morrison & Foerster LLP, this continues their prior interview with Merhom, founder and CEO of SOLO, a fintech platform focused on business financial management, real-time data consolidation, and first-party credit reporting.[headline][1]

Core event: Mastercard announced a definitive agreement on March 22, 2026, to acquire BVNK, a UK-based stablecoin infrastructure provider founded in 2021, for up to $1.8 billion (including $300 million in contingent payments). The deal enables Mastercard to process stablecoin-denominated transactions, bridge fiat and blockchain networks, and support use cases like cross-border remittances, payouts, and B2B payments across 130+ countries; it is expected to close later in 2026 pending regulatory approvals.[1][2][4][5]