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Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered Eye U.S. Crypto Market Amid Regulatory Shift

Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered Eye U.S. Crypto Market Amid Regulatory Shift
Photo by cmophoto.net / Unsplash

German and British megabanks seek expansion in crypto as Trump’s pro-digital asset stance reshapes U.S. financial landscape

In a rapidly evolving financial environment, Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered are reportedly positioning themselves to seize opportunities within the U.S. cryptocurrency market, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report.

While the German multinational Deutsche Bank has not officially confirmed the claims, a source close to the matter states that the bank is currently exploring a deeper involvement in the U.S. crypto index, a move inspired by a shifting and notably more favorable regulatory climate.

"The returning U.S. President Donald Trump has already greenlit a digital asset reserve and revamped the SEC’s crypto policy, signaling the first fully pro-crypto administration in U.S. history."

A Strategic Expansion Rooted in History

Deutsche Bank’s relationship with blockchain and crypto is not new. The institution:

  • Began exploring blockchain in July 2015
  • Predicted mainstream adoption of the technology that same year
  • Joined JPMorgan’s blockchain-powered payment network in 2020
  • Initially concluded that Bitcoin was not ideal for payments, yet acknowledged its significance
  • Applied for a crypto custody license in Germany in June 2023

These milestones underscore its calculated, long-term approach to the digital asset space.

Similarly, Standard Chartered is said to be aligning with a global consortium aimed at expanding its presence in the sector, signaling that this is no isolated move—but part of a broader institutional shift.

Trump’s Crypto Pivot Changes Everything

The landscape has drastically changed in early 2025 with Trump’s return to the White House, bringing policies that are explicitly favorable to cryptocurrency. Under this new administration:

  • A digital asset reserve has been established
  • The U.S. SEC has undergone a policy overhaul to better accommodate crypto
  • Traditional finance institutions are racing to capitalize on regulatory openness

Notably, Bank of America has announced plans to launch a stablecoin, pending the finalization of legislation, while US Bancorp is reactivating its crypto custody services.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell emphasized that the agency does not intend to block growing integration between traditional banking and the cryptocurrency industry.

An Inevitable Convergence

The increasing engagement of legacy banks with digital assets signals a growing synergy between traditional finance and crypto innovation. The combination of policy shifts and financial ambition appears to be driving a new wave of digital transformation in the American banking sector.

"Crypto is no longer on the sidelines. It’s moving to the center of institutional finance."

Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered's strategic timing could place them at the forefront of what may soon be a radically transformed U.S. financial system.

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