The Silent Transformation: Banks in the United States Massively Embrace Bitcoin

The U.S. banking industry is experiencing an unprecedented paradigm shift. According to data from Bitcoin River, a firm specializing in cryptocurrency financial services, 60% of the top 25 banks in the United States have already launched or publicly announced their entry into Bitcoin-related services. This move marks a radical turnaround from the rejection stance that dominated for years, demonstrating how traditional finance is finally positioning itself to capture opportunities in digital assets after years of regulatory uncertainty.

A Majority of U.S. Banks Pivot Toward Crypto Services

The services these U.S. banks are offering range from trading operations and digital custody to crypto-backed financing products. This diversification suggests that institutions do not see Bitcoin as a passing fad but as a strategic component of their service portfolios. The speed of adoption contrasts sharply with the skepticism that prevailed just two years ago, when many banking entities openly rejected working with crypto sector companies.

What Is Driving This Change Among Bank Executives?

During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong revealed revealing conversations with financial sector leaders. Most of the banking executives he met no longer expressed hostility toward cryptocurrencies; on the contrary, many showed genuine optimism. “Most of them really consider it a significant opportunity,” Armstrong said. The most revealing was the testimony of a CEO from one of the ten largest global banks, who described cryptocurrencies as their most urgent strategic priority, viewing it as a matter of competitive survival.

This emotional shift starkly contrasts with the era of “Operation Chokepoint 2.0,” when U.S. banking institutions were widely accused of actively sabotaging financial access to crypto companies.

Banking Giants Divide: Adoption vs. Resistance

Among the Big Four banks in the United States, three have decisively moved toward Bitcoin. JPMorgan Chase is actively considering crypto trading services for its clients. Wells Fargo already offers Bitcoin-backed loan products to institutional investors. Citigroup is evaluating digital custody solutions to manage high-value crypto assets. Together, these three institutions manage over $7.3 trillion in global assets.

Recently, UBS joined this institutional race. According to Bloomberg reports, the Swiss bank is evaluating offering access to Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for high-net-worth clients, thereby increasing competitive pressure in the sector.

However, not all major U.S. banks have made decisions. Bank of America, the second-largest bank in the country with over $2.67 trillion in assets under management, has yet to disclose public plans related to Bitcoin. Capital One and Truist Financial, other giants with $694 billion and $536 billion in assets respectively, also maintain a wait-and-see stance.

Bitcoin vs. Stablecoins: An Unequal Reception

While openness toward Bitcoin is notable, banks remain much more cautious regarding yield-generating stablecoins. Major institutions have been highly critical of these digital products, arguing that they could destabilize the financial system by directly competing with traditional deposits and money market funds. This distinction underscores that bank adoption of cryptocurrencies is selective, not universal; Bitcoin enjoys legitimacy as an asset, while other segments of the crypto ecosystem face greater skepticism.

Bitcoin as Infrastructure: The Future of Institutional Banking

The emerging narrative is clear: Bitcoin is transitioning from being perceived as a speculative asset to being recognized as a fundamental financial infrastructure. With Bitcoin ETFs now firmly integrated into U.S. markets and custody standards continuously improving, banks are rushing not to fall behind in a race where institutional adoption is accelerating exponentially.

Armstrong’s comments from Davos capture this new reality: for many leaders in modern banking, working with cryptocurrencies is no longer optional. It has become a strategic imperative. U.S. banks that fall behind risk losing market share to more agile competitors who are already positioning themselves in the future of digital finance.