Standard Chartered becomes first major global bank to offer spot trading for institutional clients, launching BTC/USD and ETH/USD pairs today, with non-deliverable forwards to follow. The service integrates into their FX platforms, allowing clients to choose custodians and trade in a regulated bank environment—marking a major step for mainstream adoption .
Bitcoin Hits New Heights, Faces Take‑Profit Pullback
New all‑time high: Bitcoin surged past $123,000, fueled by U.S. "Crypto Week" and Republican-led regulatory momentum .
Profit-taking sets in: BTC slumped ~3‑5%, settling near $117,000–118,000 as traders locked in gains .
Overall market cap dips ~5%, with Ethereum now trading under $ARPA$3,000 .
Stablecoins & Regulation in Focus
Bank of America highlights the GENIUS Act as a landmark framework poised to integrate stablecoins into mainstream financial systems, benefiting issuers like Circle and Tether, plus payment giants (Visa, Mastercard, PayPal) .
Separately, FT reports the EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority identifying crypto – especially stablecoins – as Europe’s top laundering risk. They commit to unified compliance under MiCA and will supervise ~40 major firms by 2028 .
Broader Ecosystem & Tech Angle
“Crypto Week” in Washington saw the launch of Mint Miner AI Cloud Mining+, signaling innovation in mining tech .
Surges in altcoins like HBAR and XRP continue as trading volume grows, amid hopes of investments tied to institutional and presale interest .
What This Means for Users & Traders
Institutions now have regulated bank-led access to BTC$BTC
and ETH$ETH
—boosting confidence and potential inflows.
Volatility remains high: New all-time highs followed by healthy corrections present short-term trading opportunities.
Stablecoins are gaining regulatory clarity, opening grounds for broader adoption in payments and finance.
Regulation is accelerating globally, with both the U.S. and EU prioritizing crypto frameworks, reducing uncertainty.
