The strategic partnership between European banking titan ING and crypto asset manager Bitwise represents more than a simple investment—it signals a fundamental pivot in how institutional capital engages with digital assets. This move validates Bitcoin’s role as institutional collateral while simultaneously exposing the critical scalability limitations of Bitcoin’s base layer. The resulting institutional demand for high-throughput infrastructure is triggering a significant capital rotation into Layer 2 solutions, with projects like Bitcoin Hyper attracting over $31 million in presale funding by promising to merge Bitcoin’s security with Solana-like transaction speeds.
about ING-Bitwise Deal Accelerates Bitcoin L2 AdoptionING
0 in Finance and 0 in Crypto last weekWall Street Closing Bell Analysis with Top Financial Experts
Bloomberg Television delivers comprehensive market coverage during the crucial closing bell period on Wall Street, featuring an impressive lineup of financial leaders and institutional experts sharing real-time analysis and investment perspectives. Today’s broadcast brings together prominent voices from the Council on Foreign Relations’ Rebecca Patterson to Arena Investors’ Dan Zwirn and RBC Capital Markets’ Rishi Jaluria, providing critical insights during the final trading minutes and immediate post-close period.
about Wall Street Closing Bell Analysis with Top Financial ExpertsRipple-SWIFT Dual System Theory: Path to $1,000 XRP?
Prominent crypto analyst Remi Relief has proposed a revolutionary dual-system theory where Ripple and SWIFT could coexist while both relying on XRP for settlement, potentially accelerating the cryptocurrency’s path to a $1,000 valuation. This framework emerges as major banks including JPMorgan, Bank of America, and European institutions develop proprietary stablecoins, creating fragmentation that XRP could bridge. The theory responds to Paul Barron’s analysis of how institutional stablecoin proliferation creates new opportunities for interoperability assets like XRP.
about Ripple-SWIFT Dual System Theory: Path to $1,000 XRP?Fed Signals Rate Cut Amid Trade Tensions, ASML Rises
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has indicated another interest rate cut is imminent this month, while renewed US-China trade tensions create market uncertainty. Meanwhile, ASML shares climbed as the AI boom drives demand for advanced semiconductor equipment, highlighting divergent market forces as European political stability improves with France’s government retreating from controversial pension reforms.
about Fed Signals Rate Cut Amid Trade Tensions, ASML RisesFrance’s Lecornu Wins Socialist Backing to Pass Budget
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has secured crucial Socialist Party support in France’s National Assembly, dramatically improving his government’s chances of surviving two no-confidence votes scheduled for Thursday. The breakthrough comes as Lecornu’s administration focuses on passing a budget that addresses urgent economic measures while targeting a significant reduction in France’s deficit from 5.4% to 4.7% of economic output, with two-thirds of the adjustment coming from controversial spending constraints including frozen pension and welfare payments.
about France's Lecornu Wins Socialist Backing to Pass BudgetMajor Banks Form Stablecoin Consortium After Trump Endorsement
A powerful consortium of global banking giants including Bank of America, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, and UBS is collaborating to develop stablecoins pegged to G7 currencies, marking a significant institutional push into digital assets. This initiative follows former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of the sector and aims to challenge Tether’s overwhelming market dominance, where USDT currently accounts for $179 billion of the total $310 billion stablecoin market. The move represents growing mainstream acceptance of blockchain technology in traditional finance, with multiple banks exploring how digital assets can reduce costs and improve efficiency.
about Major Banks Form Stablecoin Consortium After Trump EndorsementCrypto Crash: $300B Wiped Out in September Leverage Unwind
Cryptocurrency markets experienced a devastating $300 billion selloff between September 18-28 as overleveraged traders faced $7.3 billion in forced liquidations, exposing critical structural vulnerabilities in digital asset markets. The cascade of automated selling, triggered by Bitcoin’s failure to breach key resistance levels, coincided with Federal Reserve policy uncertainty and accelerating inflation fears, creating a perfect storm for risk assets. Despite the brutal downturn, regulatory developments and potential monetary policy shifts provide a foundation for fourth-quarter recovery hopes.
about Crypto Crash: $300B Wiped Out in September Leverage UnwindEuropean Banks Launch Euro Stablecoin to Challenge Dollar Dominance
In a landmark move for European financial sovereignty, nine major banks have united to create a euro-backed stablecoin, targeting a late 2026 launch. This consortium-led initiative, backed by the EU’s MiCA regulatory framework, aims directly to counter the overwhelming dominance of US dollar-denominated stablecoins like USDT and USDC. The strategic push is already generating positive market sentiment, fueling investor interest in related crypto infrastructure projects.
about European Banks Launch Euro Stablecoin to Challenge Dollar DominanceING, UniCredit Lead 9 Banks in MiCA-Compliant Euro Stablecoin
A consortium of nine major European banks, including Dutch lender ING and Italy’s UniCredit, is spearheading the development of a euro-pegged stablecoin designed to be fully compliant with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. Planned for launch in the second half of 2026, this initiative aims to establish a trusted digital payment standard within Europe’s evolving regulatory framework, marking a significant step toward institutional adoption of blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
about ING, UniCredit Lead 9 Banks in MiCA-Compliant Euro StablecoinSEC Hires Crypto Experts to Bolster Regulatory Team
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced key hires with cryptocurrency and blockchain experience, signaling a focus on digital asset regulation. Jamie Selway, former global head of institutional markets at Blockchain.com, will lead the trading and markets division. Brian Daly, a partner at Akin Gump with crypto expertise, will head the investment management division. These appointments highlight the SEC’s commitment to integrating industry knowledge into its regulatory framework as crypto oversight intensifies.
about SEC Hires Crypto Experts to Bolster Regulatory TeamING Plans Euro Stablecoin Under EU’s MiCA Framework
ING is working on a euro-backed stablecoin in partnership with other financial institutions, though progress has been slow due to pending board approvals. The project follows the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which mandates licensing, transparency, and fully collateralized reserves for stablecoin issuers. MiCA is reshaping Europe’s stablecoin landscape, favoring compliant players like Société Générale and Circle over crypto-native firms. Traditional banks, including Standard Chartered and Bank of America, are increasingly entering the stablecoin space, viewing them as infrastructure for faster and cheaper financial services. Meanwhile, US-based Avit and Puerto Rico’s FV Bank highlight growing adoption of bank-issued stablecoins.
about ING Plans Euro Stablecoin Under EU's MiCA Framework