Banks Move In, Bitcoin Waits, and Speculation Runs

Bitcoin is getting ignored, gold and copper are getting paid, banks are stepping into crypto, and US states are quietly rewriting the rules. This week isn't about price—it's about where capital feels safe, where it feels useful, and where it's still on the sidelines.

If you want to stay ahead, this is about understanding why money is moving before it shows up on the chart.

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Market-Moving News

Markets aren't confused—they're being selective. From Bitcoin lagging fear and AI trades, to banks positioning themselves between you and the order book, to US states shaping crypto-friendly ground rules, these moves show how risk is being repriced in real time.

Markets

Bitcoin Trails Gold and Copper as Capital Chases Tangible Assets

Bitcoin has lagged major assets in 2025, while gold and copper have surged to the top of the performance table. Gold is up roughly 70% year-to-date, copper is up about 35%, and Bitcoin is down around 6%.

That split matters because gold and copper represent opposite macro bets. One prices in fear and currency debasement, the other prices in AI-driven growth and industrial demand.

Fear and AI Are Winning—Without Bitcoin

Gold's rally reflects rising concern over fiscal debt, tariffs, and political risk across developed markets. Copper's strength tracks electrification, data centers, and AI infrastructure spending.

Bitcoin was expected to benefit from both narratives. Instead, capital has flowed toward assets investors can touch, store, or plug into the real economy.

Why Bitcoin Missed Both Trades

Bitcoin's "digital gold" pitch hasn't convinced new institutional buyers. Many investors see it as a passive hedge rather than a growth asset tied to real-world use.

Without a sovereign bid, Bitcoin remains dominated by higher-risk capital like hedge funds and retail. Central banks still choose gold when they want protection.

A Market Pricing Two Futures at Once

The copper-to-gold ratio has dropped nearly 20% to multi-decade lows. That signals late-cycle conditions where growth optimism coexists with deep systemic anxiety.

Stocks and Treasuries lagging alongside a weaker dollar reinforce the message. Markets are hedging promises and paper risk.

Take: This isn't Bitcoin failing—it's Bitcoin waiting. If fiscal stress deepens, Bitcoin could still react with more torque, but for now, investors are paying for certainty, not optionality.

Institutions

Banks Move Into Crypto Trading as Pressure Builds on Exchanges

US banks are preparing to enter spot crypto trading after new guidance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The OCC confirmed banks can facilitate "riskless principal" crypto trades without holding inventory.

That green light arrived as JPMorgan Chase explores offering crypto trading to institutional clients. Wall Street is no longer watching from the sidelines.

What 'Riskless' Really Means

Banks can now broker crypto trades and earn fees without taking market risk. That lowers regulatory friction and gives them a structural edge.

For many users, buying Bitcoin from a bank feels safer than using a crypto-native exchange. Trust and distribution matter more than technology here.

Why Exchanges Feel the Heat

Retail-focused exchanges rely heavily on spot trading and custody fees. Banks can compete directly in that low-risk, high-volume segment.

That doesn't kill exchanges, but it squeezes margins. Expect more focus on derivatives, global markets, and infrastructure services.

Banks Will Still Move Carefully

Most banks will limit offerings to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and regulated stablecoins. Full exchange-style menus aren't coming anytime soon.

Many will still rely on crypto-native firms for liquidity and plumbing. Competition and partnership will coexist.

Take: This is a credibility shift, not a takeover. Banks entering crypto validates the market, but it forces exchanges to evolve beyond basic spot trading to stay relevant.

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US Policy

Arizona Pushes to Block Crypto Taxes and Protect Node Operators

Arizona lawmakers introduced new bills aiming to exempt crypto from certain taxes and protect blockchain node operators. Some measures would require voter approval in 2026.

The proposals include banning property taxes on crypto and stopping cities from taxing or fining node operators. It's one of the most aggressive state-level crypto policy pushes yet.

What the Bills Actually Do

One bill would exempt virtual currency from state property taxes. Another would prevent local governments from charging fees to node operators.

A constitutional amendment would lock those protections in place if voters approve. That makes reversal far harder.

Arizona's Bigger Crypto Ambition

Arizona already has a digital asset reserve law on the books. Lawmakers have also floated giving the state authority to invest in assets like Bitcoin.

Not all efforts have succeeded, but the direction is clear. Arizona wants to be structurally crypto-friendly.

A Patchwork Across the US

Other states are moving in different directions. Some want small tax exemptions, others propose transaction taxes.

At the federal level, limited exemptions are still under debate. State-level experimentation is filling the gap.

Take: This won't change markets overnight, but it shapes the map. States that reduce friction attract builders, capital, and infrastructure long before prices react.

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Future Forward

If you want to get ahead in crypto, stop watching the price and start watching where people show up.

Conferences, airdrops, and token launches tell you where builders are building, where capital is listening, and where attention is quietly forming.

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Token launches are live stress tests. You see who's ready to ship, who understands risk, and who can survive the market's first honest reaction.

Conferences pull it all together. When builders, funds, and regulators share the same rooms, tomorrow's narratives usually start there—not on your timeline.

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Crypto Know-How: What Is Bitmine?

Bitmine is a public company that's building a massive Ethereum treasury instead of treating ETH like a short-term trade. Think of it as a corporate bet that Ethereum will matter more over time—not just next month.

The company buys and holds Ether on its balance sheet, similar to how some firms hold Bitcoin as a reserve asset. As ETH's role in finance, staking, and infrastructure grows, Bitmine aims to benefit from that long-term exposure.

Bitmine also plans to stake part of its ETH holdings, which means earning yield by helping secure the Ethereum network. That turns idle assets into productive ones, creating income instead of just price exposure.

For you, Bitmine matters because it shows how crypto is moving into corporate strategy. Ethereum isn't just a token anymore—it's becoming something companies build around.

Everything Else

• Ethereum quietly became Wall Street's default blockchain in 2025, as banks, asset managers, and even tech giants chose its layer-2 ecosystem for tokenization, helped by regulatory clarity and a more outward-facing Ethereum Foundation.

• Aave's token fell 18% in a week as a governance fight over brand and control spooked investors, showing how off-chain uncertainty can hit harder than macro volatility even in a stable market.

• Ether ETFs finally snapped a week-long outflow streak while XRP ETFs continued steady inflows, signaling that investors are differentiating between large-cap narratives instead of rotating in and out blindly.

• Crypto hacks became fewer but more dangerous in 2025, with attackers shifting from simple code exploits to high-impact supply chain and phishing scams that target infrastructure and human trust.

• Bitmine crossed 4 million ETH in holdings after another $40 million buy, reinforcing a growing trend of corporate crypto treasuries treating Ethereum as a long-term strategic asset rather than a trade.