- U.S. national banks can now act as intermediaries in crypto transactions based on new guidance.
- The move allows banks to engage in “riskless principal” transactions involving crypto assets.
- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is enabling listed spot-crypto products on federally regulated futures exchanges.
- The CFTC also launched a pilot program for using digital assets like Bitcoin as collateral in derivatives markets.
- Following these changes, the crypto market showed gains, with Bitcoin rising above $93,000.
The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued new guidance allowing national banks to serve as intermediaries in cryptocurrency transactions. Announced on December 9, 2025, the guidance permits banks to conduct “riskless principal” transactions involving crypto assets, enabling them to act as agents in crypto trades for customers. The letter also notes that banks may hold crypto assets as principals outside these transactions. The full details are available here.
This update follows the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)‘s announcement that listed spot crypto products will begin trading in the United States on federally regulated futures exchanges registered with the agency. This step integrates digital assets more deeply into the U.S. financial system amid rising institutional interest. The CFTC is also launching a pilot program that allows using digital assets like bitcoin and stablecoins as collateral in derivatives markets. The agency revised its guidance on tokenized collateral and withdrew outdated requirements after the passage of the GENIUS Act, as detailed here.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency emphasized that “The business of banking includes brokerage of financial investment instruments,” reflecting the traditional role of banks as financial intermediaries. This broadens banks’ authority to trade financial instruments as agents for customers beyond standard securities brokerage activities.
The crypto market responded positively to these regulatory advances. The overall market capitalization rose by over 4.17%, with Bitcoin prices climbing back above $93,000.
✅ Follow BITNEWSBOT on Telegram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X.com, and Google News for instant updates.
Previous Articles:
- Why Modern Brands Are Built on Stories, Not Products
- US Eyes Legal Workarounds as Nvidia AI Chips Face Export Scrutiny
- Arkham Claims to Deanonymize Zcash Spark Backlash and Denials
- Democrats Warn Supreme Court Ruling Could Threaten Crypto Regulation
- Storm-0249 Shifts Tactics, Uses DLL Sideloading in Ransomware Attack
