Major European financial institutions, specifically Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered, are reportedly intensifying their crypto strategies within the United States
The Trump administration’s evolving regulatory environment motivates them.
According to insights from the Wall Street Journal, this strategic acceleration follows years of challenging regulatory conditions and represents a noticeable shift in approach.
The landscape in 2025 presents a stark contrast to the recent past, where events such as the FTX failure and the demise of crypto-focused banks like Silvergate and Signature led many traditional financial players to retreat from the digital asset space.
Reports suggest that policy modifications under President Trump‘s administration, including adjustments to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) crypto oversight and the greenlighting of a digital asset reserve, have fostered a more conducive atmosphere.
Deutsche Bank Fortifies Global Crypto Infrastructure and Prepares for US Presence
Deutsche Bank’s engagement with digital assets is not a novel development, yet its recent activities signal a clear scaling up of its ambitions.
As of January 2025, the German bank began serving as a banking provider for Bison, the crypto trading platform linked to the Börse Stuttgart Group, assuming responsibility for safeguarding users’ euro deposits.
This collaboration is part of Bison’s diversified banking relationships and supplements its existing arrangement with Solaris SE.
Standard Chartered Advances Institutional Crypto Tools and Eyes US Market
Standard Chartered has shifted its focus from Deutsche Bank’s emphasis on partnerships and application-level services to prioritizing the construction of foundational infrastructure and ensuring regulatory compliance.
In April 2025, the bank, collaborating with OKX and Franklin Templeton, launched a program for mirroring digital collateral.
Operating under the supervision of Dubai’s VARA regulatory body, this system permits institutional clients to utilize tokenized money market funds and digital currencies as collateral for trading.
By keeping the collateral separate from the exchange platform, with Standard Chartered acting as the regulated custodian through its Dubai International Financial Centre operations.
The initiative seeks to make better use of capital and reduce counterparty risk, which is an important move for integrating digital assets into institutional operations.
Wider Implications of Renewed Banking Interest in US Crypto Market
The heightened focus by Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered on expanding their US crypto operations is symptomatic of a larger trend.
This broader movement is underpinned by a more welcoming political environment, advantageous regulatory shifts, and the increasing sophistication of global digital asset infrastructure.
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