Welcome to this week’s Crypto & Blockchain Weekly Round Up — July 18th!
Every week we provide some of the top crypto news of the week.
Dive in.
🚀 Bitcoin just hit a new all-time high — and fittingly, it's happening during Crypto Week in the U.S. 🇺🇸 The momentum in digital assets has been relentless, with game-changing headlines rolling in from every direction. Regulators have officially cleared banks to custody crypto 🔐, Citi is positioning itself as a gateway to the bitcoin economy 🌍, and Charles Schwab is preparing to launch spot bitcoin and ethereum trading soon 📈. Australia just approved bitcoin as mortgage collateral 🏡, Trump is eyeing crypto for 401(k)s 📊, and the total crypto market cap has shattered the $4 trillion milestone 💥.
Crypto isn’t the future. It’s the now. ⚡
🇺🇸 Big News from the Fed, OCC, and FDIC
In a major regulatory update, U.S. banking regulators have confirmed that banks can custody crypto assets like bitcoin — so long as they adhere to existing fiduciary and risk-management laws. This move brings much-needed clarity to the evolving role of traditional finance in the digital asset space.
📌 Banks must have full control of private keys to qualify as custodians — meaning full control comes with full liability.
This signals growing institutional trust in Bitcoin infrastructure and sets the stage for broader adoption across the banking sector.
👀 Institutional access is getting real.
#Bitcoin #Crypto #Cryptocustody #Custodians #Defi
🔐 Crypto Custody Gets a Regulatory Framework in the U.S.
The OCC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC have issued joint guidance confirming that banks can custody crypto assets like bitcoin, but only under strict legal conditions.
Key takeaways:
✔️ Banks, not customers, must have full control of the private keys to legally claim custody
✔️ Full control equals full liability
This guidance does not introduce new rules but clarifies how existing laws apply to crypto safekeeping, particularly around fiduciary responsibility. For institutions exploring crypto services, this sets a higher standard and a clearer path forward for compliant custody.
Another step toward integrating Bitcoin into the regulated banking world.
#CryptoCustody #Bitcoin #DigitalAssets #CryptoRegulation #TradFi
🏦 Citi Bank Signals Major Shift Toward Digital Assets
Citi, with over $2 trillion in assets, has publicly declared its role as an onramp to the bitcoin and crypto economy. In a recent interview, CFO Mark Mason stated, “Clients want to be multi-border, multi-asset,” highlighting the bank’s recognition of evolving investor demand.
This move positions Citi among a growing list of global financial institutions acknowledging the long-term role of crypto in capital markets and cross-border finance.
From traditional finance to digital infrastructure, the transformation is accelerating.
Legacy banks aren’t just watching — they’re building.
#Citi #Bank #Asset #Regulation #Defi
📈 Major Retirement Shift: U.S. 401(k) Plans May Soon Include Crypto
President Trump is reportedly preparing an executive order to open the $9 trillion U.S. retirement market to crypto, gold, and private equity. The move would allow 401(k) plans to include alternative assets — marking one of the most significant shifts in how Americans can allocate their retirement savings.
This proposal signals growing recognition of digital assets as part of a diversified long-term investment strategy and could unlock unprecedented access to crypto for millions of everyday investors.
Traditional retirement plans are no longer off-limits to bitcoin and blockchain-based assets.
Alternative investing just hit the mainstream.
#Trump #401k #Privateequity #Gold #Retirement
🏡 Australia Approves Crypto as Mortgage Collateral
In a landmark decision, an Australian court has ruled that homeowners can legally use bitcoin and other crypto assets as collateral for mortgages.
This opens the door for greater financial flexibility and further integrates digital assets into traditional lending frameworks. As crypto continues to mature as an asset class, rulings like this demonstrate how it's being recognized not just as a speculative investment—but as real, functional capital.
From DeFi to real estate, the line between traditional finance and crypto continues to blur.
A massive win for adoption.
#Adoption #Australia #Mortgage #Bitcoin #Homeowner
🌍 Crypto Market Cap Surpasses $4 Trillion for the First Time
The global crypto market has officially crossed the $4 trillion mark—setting a new all-time high in total market capitalization.
This milestone reflects accelerating momentum across the entire ecosystem, from institutional adoption and retail inflows to regulatory clarity and innovation in DeFi, tokenization, and real-world assets.
From a fringe experiment to a multi-trillion-dollar asset class, crypto is now impossible to ignore.
Congrats to everyone building, investing, and believing.
#Global #Crypto #ATH #Momentum #Defi
🧠 Charles Schwab Moves Closer to Spot Bitcoin & Ethereum Trading
The CEO of Charles Schwab has confirmed the firm is preparing to launch spot bitcoin and ethereum trading “sometime soon”, adding that clients increasingly want crypto to “sit alongside their other assets.”
The move would position Schwab — one of America’s largest financial firms — as a direct competitor to platforms like Coinbase. Schwab already has significant crypto exposure: over 20% of client assets are held in crypto-related ETFs, signaling clear investor demand.
Traditional wealth platforms are embracing crypto, not avoiding it.
This is what mainstream adoption looks like — integrated, accessible, and client-driven.
#Trading #Ethereum #Bitcoin #ETF #Defi
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, or other professional advice. MeetAmi makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information, which is sourced from publicly available media and websites. Readers should conduct their own due diligence before making any financial decisions.
