As the Trump administration softens regulatory hurdles, two global banking giants are positioning themselves to shape the future of crypto in America.
After years of regulatory turbulence and caution, Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered are now accelerating their crypto ambitions in the United States, according to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal.
The renewed momentum follows significant policy changes under President Donald Trump’s current administration, which has sparked optimism across the digital asset sector. With crypto regulation becoming more accommodating, legacy financial institutions are reassessing their role in the ecosystem.
Trump Administration Ushers in New Crypto Era
The return of Donald Trump to the White House has brought a marked shift in crypto regulatory policy. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has undergone a leadership overhaul, softening its historically aggressive stance toward digital assets. The administration has also introduced the idea of a federal digital asset reserve, signaling an institutional embrace of crypto infrastructure.
This changing environment has prompted major banks — once hesitant due to regulatory gray areas and collapses like FTX, Silvergate, and Signature Bank — to revisit their crypto strategies with renewed urgency.
Deutsche Bank Expands Global Crypto Services, Eyes U.S. Entry
Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest financial institution, has made several international moves in recent months that signal a deepening commitment to digital asset services.
In January 2025, the bank became the new euro-balance custodian for users of Bison, the crypto trading app run by Börse Stuttgart Group. While the move did not replace Solaris SE, Bison’s existing banking partner, it marked the start of Deutsche Bank’s multi-banking strategy within the crypto sector.
In parallel, Deutsche Bank entered into a strategic alliance with Crypto.com, covering key Asia-Pacific markets such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia. The partnership offers corporate banking support for crypto firms — including fiat-to-crypto ramps, cross-border settlements, and regulatory-compliant services.
The bank has already stated that it plans to replicate this model in the U.K. and European Union, and now, it appears that the United States is the next target.
“We see ourselves as a bridge between traditional finance and the new digital economy,” a bank executive told WSJ.
Standard Chartered Focuses on Infrastructure and Tokenization
Standard Chartered, another major global bank, has taken a more infrastructure-focused route, developing regulated digital asset solutions with a growing emphasis on collateral management and stablecoins.
In April 2025, the bank launched a digital collateral mirroring program in partnership with OKX and Franklin Templeton, regulated under Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA).
This initiative allows institutions to use tokenized money market funds and cryptocurrencies as trade collateral — a move aimed at improving capital efficiency and reducing counterparty risks. Importantly, the collateral is held off-exchange, aligning with recent industry calls for better asset custody practices.
Standard Chartered serves as the regulated custodian in this framework, leveraging its base in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
The bank is also venturing into the stablecoin sector. Its Hong Kong branch (SCBHK) recently partnered with Animoca Brands and HKT to launch a Hong Kong dollar-pegged stablecoin. The trio plans to apply for a stablecoin license under the new HKMA regulatory framework.
This builds upon Standard Chartered’s active role in Hong Kong’s tokenized finance pilots, further solidifying its position in digital asset development across multiple regions.
Global Banks Race to Capitalize on Shifting U.S. Crypto Policy
The renewed interest from Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered is part of a larger global shift, fueled by regulatory clarity, institutional adoption, and maturing crypto infrastructure.
As the U.S. inches toward a more crypto-friendly regime, traditional financial institutions are preparing to become critical infrastructure providers for the next generation of digital finance.
“What we’re witnessing is the foundation of a fully integrated crypto-banking system,” said one industry analyst. “2025 could be the year that legacy finance and Web3 begin to truly converge.”
If current momentum holds, the next few quarters could determine how banks embed themselves into the fabric of U.S. crypto markets — not as observers, but as key players.
