Bitcoin data proves 60% of top US banks are quietly activating a strategy they publicly denied for years
Data shows nearly 60% of top US banks are integrating Bitcoin services, moving from denial to offering custody, trading, and advisory roles.Summary
Despite years of public distance from Bitcoin due to regulatory and reputational concerns, data from River indicates that nearly 60% of the top 25 US banks are now actively pursuing strategies involving selling, safekeeping, or advising on Bitcoin. The adoption is progressing in phases, starting with ETF pass-throughs which served as a stress test, and moving toward allowing clients to trade the underlying asset through familiar interfaces, often utilizing "Crypto-as-a-Service" models like PNC partnering with Coinbase. Recent guidance from the OCC clarifying riskless principal transactions further facilitates this integration by reducing capital risk. This shift is underpinned by a clearer regulatory landscape, allowing banks to assemble plug-and-play infrastructure stacks using regulated counterparties. However, this integration introduces new systemic risks, as many institutions rely on a concentrated set of infrastructure providers (like Coinbase, NYDIG) for custody and key management. If current trajectories hold, by 2026, Bitcoin exposure will be a standard offering, woven into mainstream finance, driven by client demand to prevent assets from moving elsewhere.
(Source：CryptoSlate)