While retail users face friction, traditional finance is moving deeper into crypto infrastructure. In the US, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has clarified that banks may facilitate crypto transactions, and a growing share of top institutions are exploring Bitcoin-related services. Meanwhile, Europe’s MiCA framework is paving the way for regulated custody and tokenization products across the region.

Yet the tension remains unresolved. Industry leaders say many banks lack the internal tools to interpret blockchain data within existing compliance systems, often defaulting to freezing accounts when crypto activity appears. The result is a paradox: crypto is entering the financial mainstream at the institutional level, but for many individuals and startups, basic access to banking still depends on whether a risk engine understands what happens onchain.