Bitcoin news from Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai took a major turn on December 4, 2025, when Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy Inc., revealed that the largest Wall Street banks have shifted from skepticism to active participation in crypto within just 12 months — far faster than the 4–8 year timeline most experts once predicted.
Speaking before thousands of attendees at Coca-Cola Arena, Saylor named BNY Mellon, PNC, Citi, JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Vanguard as major institutions that are now offering Bitcoin custody, lending, and credit services.
He emphasized a milestone moment:
👉 In just the past six months, 8 out of the 10 largest U.S. banks have officially entered crypto lending.
At the same time:
Bitcoin trades near $92,669
Spot Bitcoin ETF inflows have turned positive again, according to Farside Investors
Together, these signals highlight a structural shift in the Bitcoin market:
> Institutions are now driving Bitcoin’s trajectory, no longer retail speculation alone.
This new era ties Bitcoin directly to:
Federal Reserve monetary policy
Fiscal deficits
Global macro liquidity cycles
For long-term investors, this strengthens Bitcoin’s legitimacy as a macro asset, while simultaneously raising concerns around regulation and centralization risks.
From Rejection to Custody in Just One Year
During a panel moderated by The Bitcoin Therapist and later shared on X by @CryptosR_Us (Dec 5), Saylor stated:
> “The world’s largest banks weren’t supposed to embrace Bitcoin for another 4–8 years — but it’s happening right now.”
Key developments he highlighted:
BNY Mellon now provides Bitcoin custody for ETFs
PNC offers Bitcoin-backed loans
Citi plans to roll out similar BTC services in 2026
JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America have entered crypto credit markets
Vanguard launched Bitcoin-linked products in Q4
The acceleration was fueled by the final implementation of Basel III reforms in July 2025, which officially classified Bitcoin as a Tier-1 asset for banks under U.S. Federal Reserve guidance.
According to PwC’s Nov 28, 2025 report:
8 of the top 10 U.S. banks now offer crypto lending
Up from zero in Q4 of 2024
Total newly issued crypto credit exceeded $50 billion since September
Meanwhile, Charles Schwab confirmed plans to launch full Bitcoin custody in Q1 2026, completing the institutional adoption circle.
Social sentiment reflected the shift:
@CryptoJoeReal: “Institutions all want Bitcoin. Everyone wants Bitcoin.”
@GuoyuRwa: “Wall Street was supposed to warm up to Bitcoin by 2030… instead they rushed in by Q4 2025.”
The Explosion of Bitcoin Lending: $50 Billion in Fresh Credit
Saylor identified crypto lending as the true inflection point of this cycle.
One standout example:
JPMorgan launched a $10B Bitcoin-backed credit facility on Oct 15, 2025
According to Kaiko Research (Dec 3):
Annualized crypto lending volume reached $150B in Q4
Up 300% from Q1
Banks now control 40% of lending market share, overtaking DeFi protocols
Key lending metrics:
Loan-to-Value (LTV): 50–70%
Interest rates: only 4–6%
Versus 8%+ average on DeFi platforms like Aave
PNC’s lending program, launched on Nov 20:
Already deployed $2.5B in loans
Mainly to family offices, per American Banker (Dec 2)
This shift dramatically reduces forced selling: ✅ Investors no longer need to dump BTC during downturns
✅ Long-term upside remains intact
✅ Volatility is structurally dampened
ETFs, Derivatives, and Corporate Treasuries Now Dominate Bitcoin
Institutional capital continues to flood the ecosystem:
BlackRock’s IBIT ETF
AUM: $62.45B (Dec 5)
Up 5% in one week
Bitcoin derivatives open interest
Expanded from $10B to $50B in just four weeks
Source: CME Group (Nov 28)
Saylor summarized:
> “This is a macro, political, and structural transformation. Financial institutions now control Bitcoin.”
Bitcoin Halving No Longer Drives the Market
Perhaps Saylor’s most controversial statement:
> “The four-year Bitcoin halving cycle is becoming irrelevant.”
His reasoning:
Daily Bitcoin trading volume now exceeds $100B
That’s 5x higher than 2021
Supply shocks from halvings are no longer dominant drivers
Since the April 2024 halving, Bitcoin’s 120% YTD gain has been driven mostly by:
Spot ETFs
Corporate treasuries
Institutional balance sheets
Strategy alone now holds over 650,000 BTC, making it one of the most powerful treasury forces in the market.
Final Take
Bitcoin is no longer waiting for banks.
Banks are now racing for Bitcoin.
What was once a retail-driven, speculative asset has transformed into:
A Tier-1 institutional treasury reserve
A collateral base for global credit markets
A macro hedge integrated into the financial system
The next era of Bitcoin will not be about hype.
It will be about liquidity, leverage, and legacy finance integration.
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