Stock Trade Pricing: The SEC’s five-member commission said that it will consider proposing rules in an open meeting next week to help small investors get better prices on their stock trades. If the panel majority supports the proposals, they will be opened to public comment before the SEC decides whether to finalize them.

Robinhood Retirement: Robinhood announced its new offering, Robinhood Retirement, the “first and only individual retirement account (IRA) with a 1% match on every eligible dollar contributed.” The new retirement offering is aimed primarily at gig economy workers who typically don’t have an employer offering a 401(k) plan.

Retail Survey: According to a new survey from London-based investing insights platform Finimize, only 1% of retail traders plan to sell off their investments in 2023, while 65% will continue investing, and 29% plan to add to their portfolios. A majority (72%) of respondents plan to buy individual stocks next year, with 64% favoring Big Tech names like Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Meta.

Crypto Sentiment: Americans’ opinions on crypto have taken a sharp turn for the worst according to the latest CNBC All-America Economic Survey. Just 8% of Americans have a positive view of crypto, down from 19% in March 2022. The change in sentiment represents crypto’s dramatic fall from an investment that was once touted as its own asset class.

Fintech Social Media: Fintech apps are becoming increasingly social. For example, Shares is an app that turns retail stock trading into a social experience. The app enables users to see what their friends have bought and sold, encouraging discussion. Another app, Loop, allows users to borrow or lend money to friends while integrating social aspects. It awards badges for certain actions, such as promptly repaying loans.

Crypto Reporting: According to a draft of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the State Department will have to report any crypto payment it makes within 15 days of the transaction. The department will also be required to submit a report to the same committees about the use of crypto for rewards within six months of the act being enacted.

Silvergate Statement: In a US regulatory filing on Monday, Silvergate defended its role in accepting deposits for Sam Bankman-Fried’s conglomerate. The bank asserts that they conducted “extensive due diligence” on crypto exchange FTX and trading shop Alameda Research and highlighted the links Bankman-Fried’s crypto companies had with the US financial system.