Strategy executive chairman Michael Saylor claimed that every major US bank has contacted him for guidance on Bitcoin over the past six months, signaling a significant shift in traditional finance's approach to the digital asset.
Speaking at the Bitcoin MENA 2025 conference in Abu Dhabi, Saylor named BNY Mellon, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Charles Schwab, JPMorgan, and Citi as institutions seeking his counsel. "The conversation has changed completely," Saylor said. "Two years ago, this would have been unimaginable. Now, the largest financial institutions in the United States are not just curious; they are building products."
Strategy, the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin with approximately 818,000 BTC, has become a proxy for institutional exposure to the asset. According to Saylor, eight of the top 10 US banks are now moving beyond simple custody to issue credit backed by Bitcoin or instruments tied to spot ETFs like BlackRock’s IBIT. This development weaves Bitcoin into the core financial plumbing of corporate lending and wealth management, treating it as collateral rather than a purely speculative asset.
The move could unlock a substantial new wave of institutional capital by 2026, as many large allocators such as pension funds and endowments have been sidelined because their custodial banks did not support Bitcoin. Saylor specified that Wells Fargo and Citi are preparing to roll out full Bitcoin custody services in 2026, with credit products expected to follow. When investors can borrow against Bitcoin at a major bank instead of selling, it fundamentally alters the tax calculus and portfolio management strategies for large-scale holders.
While the claims point to a bullish future for Bitcoin's integration into mainstream finance, they come from an executive whose company's valuation is directly tied to the price of BTC. Every positive headline about institutional adoption benefits Strategy’s balance sheet, a fact investors must consider. The US regulatory environment has, however, shifted toward clearer frameworks for how banks can interact with digital assets, lending credibility to the trend.
The potential integration also carries significant risks. Leveraging Bitcoin through traditional bank credit products could amplify volatility in both directions. The crypto market has already witnessed the consequences of improper risk management in this area with the collapse of crypto lending platforms like Celsius and BlockFi, which attempted a similar model without the regulatory oversight or risk controls of established banks.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
