From Resistance to Adoption: Banks Enter a New Crypto Era
Welcome to the Banks' New Era of Crypto Adoption
The financial world is undergoing a historic transformation. What was once dismissed by major banks is now being adopted, built upon, and even offered as a core service. In 2025, institutions like JPMorgan, PNC, and Goldman Sachs aren’t just acknowledging crypto — they’re actively integrating it.
From crypto-backed loans to tokenized money market funds, we’re entering a new banking era, defined by crypto adoption, blockchain infrastructure, and tokenized real-world assets.
These Banks Are Leading the Crypto and Tokenization Revolution
🟢 JPMorgan Chase
- Crypto innovation: Preparing to launch crypto-collateralized loans, allowing clients to borrow against Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings.
- Impact: With $4.3 trillion in assets, JPMorgan’s shift signals that crypto is now a trusted financial instrument.
🟠 PNC Bank
- Crypto partnership: Partnered with Coinbase to enable seamless crypto trading within PNC’s banking platform.
- Impact: One of the top 10 U.S. banks, making crypto services mainstream for the American middle market.
🔵 Deutsche Bank
- Custody move: Now offering digital asset custody to institutional clients, while piloting blockchain-based payments.
- Impact: This signals a European-wide movement toward compliant crypto adoption.
🔴 Standard Chartered
- Tokenization focus: Building cross-border stablecoin rails and tokenization platforms across Asia and Africa.
- Impact: Serves as a model for banking crypto adoption in emerging markets.
🟣 Goldman Sachs & BNY Mellon
- Latest move: Launched tokenized money market fund (MMF) shares in collaboration, using Ethereum-based smart contracts.
- Tokens introduced: These digital tokens represent shares in Goldman Sachs’ institutional MMFs, allowing instant settlement and programmable cash flow for qualified investors.
- Impact: With BNY Mellon safeguarding over $56 trillion in assets, this is the most high-profile real-world asset tokenization to date.
🟤 BNP Paribas, HSBC, Société Générale
Quietly building blockchain infrastructure for settlement, lending, and custody services — preparing for global crypto rollout.
What’s Coming in 2026: Crypto and Tokenized Finance Go Global
Crypto-Collateral Banking
Expect crypto-backed loans, mortgages, and credit lines to become standard at forward-thinking banks.
Tokenized Real-World Assets (RWAs)
From real estate to bonds, assets will be tokenized and tradable 24/7 across banking platforms.
Bank-Issued Stablecoins
Large institutions may launch their own stablecoins for use in B2B payments, settlements, and cross-border flows.
DeFi Banking Integration
Compliant staking and yield-generation opportunities embedded into traditional banking apps.
Institutional Token Funds
Goldman Sachs and BNY’s MMF tokens are just the beginning — banks are now actively working on tokenized T-bills, commercial paper, and bond funds.
Will Crypto Adoption Define a Bank’s Future Ranking?
As more institutions join this shift, crypto adoption will likely become a metric of competitiveness and innovation:
| Bank Type | Traits in 2026+ | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Innovative | Crypto custody, tokenized MMFs, DeFi services, stablecoins | Leaders of the new era |
| Traditional | Fiat-only, no blockchain integration | At risk of becoming obsolete |
| Transitional | Fintech partnerships, limited token use | Lagging but evolving |
Final Thought: Crypto Is No Longer Just an Asset Class — It’s a Bank Infrastructure Layer
2025 marks the turning point. From JPMorgan's crypto loans to Goldman Sachs’ Ethereum-based token launch, crypto is no longer external to banking — it’s being embedded within it.
As we head into 2026, crypto adoption will define the banking leaders of the next generation. Those who resist may survive — but they won’t lead.
From Resistance to Adoption: Banks Enter a New Crypto Era
Welcome to the Banks' New Era of Crypto Adoption
The financial world is undergoing a historic transformation. What was once dismissed by major banks is now being adopted, built upon, and even offered as a core service. In 2025, institutions like JPMorgan, PNC, and Goldman Sachs aren’t just acknowledging crypto — they’re actively integrating it.
From crypto-backed loans to tokenized money market funds, we’re entering a new banking era, defined by crypto adoption, blockchain infrastructure, and tokenized real-world assets.
These Banks Are Leading the Crypto and Tokenization Revolution
🟢 JPMorgan Chase
- Crypto innovation: Preparing to launch crypto-collateralized loans, allowing clients to borrow against Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings.
- Impact: With $4.3 trillion in assets, JPMorgan’s shift signals that crypto is now a trusted financial instrument.
🟠 PNC Bank
- Crypto partnership: Partnered with Coinbase to enable seamless crypto trading within PNC’s banking platform.
- Impact: One of the top 10 U.S. banks, making crypto services mainstream for the American middle market.
🔵 Deutsche Bank
- Custody move: Now offering digital asset custody to institutional clients, while piloting blockchain-based payments.
- Impact: This signals a European-wide movement toward compliant crypto adoption.
🔴 Standard Chartered
- Tokenization focus: Building cross-border stablecoin rails and tokenization platforms across Asia and Africa.
- Impact: Serves as a model for banking crypto adoption in emerging markets.
🟣 Goldman Sachs & BNY Mellon
- Latest move: Launched tokenized money market fund (MMF) shares in collaboration, using Ethereum-based smart contracts.
- Tokens introduced: These digital tokens represent shares in Goldman Sachs’ institutional MMFs, allowing instant settlement and programmable cash flow for qualified investors.
- Impact: With BNY Mellon safeguarding over $56 trillion in assets, this is the most high-profile real-world asset tokenization to date.
🟤 BNP Paribas, HSBC, Société Générale
Quietly building blockchain infrastructure for settlement, lending, and custody services — preparing for global crypto rollout.
What’s Coming in 2026: Crypto and Tokenized Finance Go Global
Crypto-Collateral Banking
Expect crypto-backed loans, mortgages, and credit lines to become standard at forward-thinking banks.
Tokenized Real-World Assets (RWAs)
From real estate to bonds, assets will be tokenized and tradable 24/7 across banking platforms.
Bank-Issued Stablecoins
Large institutions may launch their own stablecoins for use in B2B payments, settlements, and cross-border flows.
DeFi Banking Integration
Compliant staking and yield-generation opportunities embedded into traditional banking apps.
Institutional Token Funds
Goldman Sachs and BNY’s MMF tokens are just the beginning — banks are now actively working on tokenized T-bills, commercial paper, and bond funds.
Will Crypto Adoption Define a Bank’s Future Ranking?
As more institutions join this shift, crypto adoption will likely become a metric of competitiveness and innovation:
| Bank Type | Traits in 2026+ | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Innovative | Crypto custody, tokenized MMFs, DeFi services, stablecoins | Leaders of the new era |
| Traditional | Fiat-only, no blockchain integration | At risk of becoming obsolete |
| Transitional | Fintech partnerships, limited token use | Lagging but evolving |
Final Thought: Crypto Is No Longer Just an Asset Class — It’s a Bank Infrastructure Layer
2025 marks the turning point. From JPMorgan's crypto loans to Goldman Sachs’ Ethereum-based token launch, crypto is no longer external to banking — it’s being embedded within it.
As we head into 2026, crypto adoption will define the banking leaders of the next generation. Those who resist may survive — but they won’t lead.