JPMorgan Chase to start accepting Bitcoin, Ethereum as loan collateral: report

  • JPMorgan will let clients use Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) as collateral for loans.
  • The move marks a major shift from Jamie Dimon’s past crypto criticism.
  • Other major banks are expanding crypto custody and lending services.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is reportedly preparing to let institutional clients use BTC and ETH as collateral for loans by the end of the year, as per a Bloomberg report.

The move marks one of the most significant steps yet by a major US bank toward integrating digital assets into traditional finance, signalling how fast cryptocurrencies are moving from the periphery to the core of global banking.

JPMorgan’s changing tune on crypto

For years, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon was one of the fiercest critics of Bitcoin, calling it a “decentralised Ponzi scheme” and claiming that only criminals used it.

Dimon’s comments often shaped how Wall Street viewed the cryptocurrency market.

But Dimon’s tone has softened in recent years, especially since Donald Trump’s 2024 election win, which brought regulatory changes that have made it easier for banks to engage with digital assets.

Now, Dimon’s JPMorgan is taking a major step that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago.

The bank’s new program will reportedly allow institutional clients to pledge their Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings as collateral for loans.

The assets will be held by a third-party custodian, ensuring compliance with existing financial and regulatory standards.

From doubt to action

Speculation about JPMorgan’s crypto-collateral plans first emerged earlier this year when the Financial Times reported that the bank was exploring such a move, potentially by 2026.

At the time, scepticism ran high. Dimon’s long record of dismissing Bitcoin, combined with banks’ cautious approach to regulatory uncertainty, made the plan seem remote.

However, the landscape has changed rapidly in 2025. With Bitcoin trading above $111,000 and Ethereum nearing $4,000, the digital asset market has reached unprecedented maturity and capitalisation.

Bitcoin’s market cap has surged to over $2.2 trillion, while Ethereum’s market cap has climbed to nearly $478 billion.

The rise in these asset prices, combined with increased institutional demand, has made cryptocurrencies more appealing as loan collateral.

JPMorgan’s initiative will expand on its earlier decision to accept crypto-linked exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as collateral.

Other banks are also integrating crypto

JPMorgan’s shift mirrors a broader transformation across the financial sector.

Morgan Stanley plans to open cryptocurrency access to retail investors through its E*Trade platform in the first half of next year.

State Street, BNY Mellon, and Fidelity are all expanding their digital asset custody services, while BlackRock recently introduced new mechanisms allowing investors to convert Bitcoin directly into ETF holdings.

Even long-time sceptics like Standard Chartered have revised their stance, recognising the growing importance of cryptocurrencies in global finance.

These moves indicate that digital assets are no longer being viewed as speculative outliers but as legitimate components of diversified financial systems.

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Bitcoin’s institutional surge widens trillion-dollar gap with altcoins

  • A trillion-dollar valuation gap now separates Bitcoin from other tokens.
  • Altcoin market capitalisation could be $800 billion higher, data shows.
  • A US-China trade selloff erased $380 billion from crypto markets.

Bitcoin’s growing dominance in institutional portfolios has created a near-trillion-dollar gap between the world’s largest cryptocurrency and its altcoin peers, according to new data shared by 10x Research.

The report attributes this widening divide to a structural shift in investor behaviour, particularly among retail traders in South Korea, who have redirected funds from altcoins to crypto-linked equities and exchange-listed vehicles that hold tokens.

Retail shift weakens altcoin liquidity

10x Research found that altcoin market capitalisation could be about $800 billion higher if retail investors—especially in South Korea—had not channelled their funds into crypto-related stocks and other equity markets.

Altcoins, which typically rely on retail liquidity to sustain upward momentum, have failed to attract enough new capital in this cycle.

Historically, South Korean traders have been a major force behind the altcoin boom.

Local exchanges have seen altcoins account for more than 80% of total trading activity, a stark contrast to global platforms where Bitcoin and Ether dominate 50% or more of daily volume.

But that pattern has shifted sharply this year, leading to a liquidity shortfall for smaller digital assets.

South Korea’s trading activity declines

From 5 November through 28 November 2024, the daily average trading volume on South Korean crypto exchanges stood at $9.4 billion, surpassing the $7 billion traded on the Kospi stock market during the same period, according to data from CCData and the Korea Exchange.

However, since then, 10x Research noted a steep decline in crypto activity, suggesting that retail participation has cooled significantly.

The report highlights that South Korea’s declining appetite for riskier altcoins has been instrumental in their recent underperformance.

Retail investors who once drove speculative rallies in coins such as XRP, Cardano, and Solana have turned instead to listed blockchain firms and exchange-traded vehicles offering indirect crypto exposure.

This shift has contributed to the overall weakness in altcoin prices.

Market losses deepen amid trade tensions

A recent selloff in the broader cryptocurrency market, triggered by escalating US-China trade tensions, exacerbated the situation.

The correction wiped out about $380 billion from total market value, with roughly $131 billion concentrated in altcoins, according to 10x Research’s data.

While Bitcoin and altcoins both suffered declines, smaller coins bore the brunt as investors sought safety in the more established and liquid assets.

Bitcoin’s appeal as a hedge within the crypto ecosystem has strengthened, reinforcing its dominance during market stress.

The selloff underscores a changing market structure where altcoins are increasingly viewed as speculative instruments, while Bitcoin’s perceived institutional legitimacy provides it with greater resilience during downturns.

As capital concentrates around Bitcoin and select equities, the broader altcoin market faces challenges in regaining lost momentum.

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Bitcoin climbs to $111K as a pardon for Binance’s ‘CZ’ fuels a broad crypto rally

  • The crypto market is rallying, with Bitcoin climbing 2.7 percent to over $110,700.
  • The rally was fueled by a presidential pardon for the Binance founder “CZ.”
  • The pardon for Changpeng Zhao sent the price of BNB soaring by over 5 percent.

The cryptocurrency market was firmly in rally mode on Thursday, with Bitcoin climbing back toward $111,000 in a powerful rebound that was fueled by sizable gains in the US stock market and a stunning presidential pardon for the founder of the crypto exchange Binance, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao.

The broad-based rally marks another day of sharp, back-and-forth price action in a market that has been defined by extreme volatility in recent weeks.

A presidential pardon sparks a relief rally

The primary catalyst for the market’s improved tone was the unexpected news of President Trump’s pardon for the Binance founder.

The move, which suggests a continuing friendly regulatory environment for the crypto industry in the US, had an immediate and powerful impact.

The price of BNB, the native token of the Binance ecosystem, surged by more than 5 percent on the news.

The positive sentiment spread across the broader crypto sector, with Bitcoin rising 2.7 percent over the past 24 hours to $110,700, and other major tokens like Ether, DOGE, and ADA all posting gains in the 2 to 3 percent range.

Crypto-related stocks, which had suffered heavy losses in Wednesday’s sell-off, also bounced back strongly, with the Bitcoin miner Hut 8 climbing 7.3 percent after tumbling 17 percent in the previous session.

A classic whipsaw pattern continues

The powerful rebound comes just one day after a sharp decline that had pushed Bitcoin’s price below $107,000.

That drop, in turn, had followed a steep rise on Tuesday that had seen the leading cryptocurrency climb as high as $114,000.

This volatile, back-and-forth action is a classic whipsaw pattern, a market condition that often punishes traders who try to chase the trend.

All eyes on a pivotal inflation report

With the pardon now digested, the market’s focus is turning to the next major potential catalyst: the US government’s September Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which is still set to be released on Friday morning despite the ongoing government shutdown.

This will likely be the last piece of important economic data that the Federal Reserve will see before its crucial rate-setting meeting next week.

The market is currently in full expectation of a 25-basis-point cut at that meeting, with another quarter-point reduction priced in for the final meeting of the year in December.

The CPI report will be the final and most important test of that conviction.

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Crypto update: Bitcoin and Ethereum are stable as market’s focus shifts to US inflation data

  • Crypto markets have entered a holding pattern, with Bitcoin near $108,164.
  • Traders are awaiting a key US inflation (CPI) report due out on Friday.
  • Hopes are rising for a de-escalation in the US-China trade war.

Cryptocurrency markets have entered a midweek holding pattern, with prices for Bitcoin and other major digital assets remaining relatively flat as traders brace for a pivotal US inflation report and look for signs of a de-escalation in the US-China trade dispute.

Bitcoin is trading around $108,164, up slightly from Monday but still down 2% for the week. Ether is changing hands near $3,815.

The stabilization reflects what the analytics firm QCP Capital has described as a narrow-range equilibrium,” a period of calm before a potential storm.

A singular focus on the US inflation report

The market’s primary focus is now firmly on Friday’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, the only major US economic data release not delayed by the ongoing government shutdown.

In a recent note, QCP said the CPI is the “singular anchor” for policy expectations and broader risk sentiment.

A softer-than-expected reading, the firm noted, could “re-anchor the soft-landing trade” and provide support for Bitcoin as expectations for looser monetary policy improve.

Hopes are rising for a US-China détente

Adding to the market’s complex picture are the shifting dynamics of the US-China trade war.

Sentiment has improved after a weekend of whiplash, in which President Trump first threatened a massive new wave of tariffs only to later soften his stance, stating that “the USA wants to help China, not hurt it.” 

This has led prediction markets to re-evaluate the risks. Traders on Polymarket now assign a 77% probability that a tariff agreement will be reached by November 10, while the odds of Trump’s threatened 100% tariffs taking effect have fallen to just 16 percent.

A cleaner slate after a brutal liquidation flush

This fragile calm comes just days after a brutal market-wide sell-off that saw nearly $20 billion in leveraged positions liquidated.

That massive flush has reset the market, creating a cleaner slate for macro traders as they head into the crucial CPI event.

The key question now is whether the “soft landing” narrative will be confirmed by Friday’s inflation data, or if the volatility that has defined the market in recent weeks will be reignited.

What to watch in the markets

For Bitcoin, analysts at Standard Chartered have noted that while sellers are limiting any immediate breakout potential, a dip below $100,000 could represent a “last chance to buy” before the next major leg higher.

For Ethereum, the picture is more divided.

A recent $650 million transfer by the Ethereum Foundation triggered a wave of profit-taking and liquidations, leaving analysts split between a potential breakout toward $5,000 and a possible slide toward $2,850 if the key support level at $3,470 fails to hold.

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Crypto slump worsens as Bitcoin slips amid a broad market sell-off

  • The crypto market’s October slump has worsened, with a 3% drop.
  • Bitcoin slipped below $110,000 and Ethereum fell below $3,900.
  • The market has lost roughly $370 billion in value this month alone.

The cryptocurrency market’s brutal October slump has worsened, with a fresh 3% drop sending Bitcoin below the key $110,000 level and dragging most major altcoins deep into the red.

The broad-based drawdown is the latest chapter in one of the harshest months of the year for the digital asset space, as a potent combination of thinning institutional support, technical disruptions, and simmering macroeconomic tensions creates a powerful “risk-off” wave.

The scale of the recent carnage is immense. The market has now erased roughly $370 billion in value this month alone, with as much as $19 billion in leveraged positions being liquidated.

Futures open interest has also been decimated, with $65 billion wiped out, resetting market activity to the levels of early 2025.

Institutional support thins as ETF outflows accelerate

A key driver of the recent weakness has been a dramatic and worrying reversal in institutional sentiment.

After months of powerful inflows, spot Bitcoin ETFs have become a source of intense selling pressure, posting a staggering $1.23 billion in weekly net outflows.

This included a massive $366 million outflow on Friday alone, a move that removed a critical layer of buying support from an already fragile market.

A perfect storm: an AWS outage and a SpaceX scare

This fundamental weakness was compounded by a perfect storm of technical and psychological blows.

A major outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS) disrupted access to a number of leading crypto venues, including the US giant Coinbase and several DeFi front-ends.

The disruption widened spreads and accelerated forced liquidations, with over $240 million in long positions being wiped out in just 24 hours, a move that briefly pushed Bitcoin toward $107,500.

Market nerves were frayed further after on-chain trackers flagged a large transfer of 2,395 BTC ($268 million) from a wallet associated with SpaceX.

While analysts suggested the flows were likely internal custody reshuffles, the timing sparked a wave of “Is Musk selling?” headlines, adding another layer of fear to an already anxious market.

What to watch next as the market hangs in the balance

Technically, the market is now at a critical inflection point. Bitcoin is facing a thick layer of resistance between $112,000 and $115,500, with key support levels now sitting at $108,000 and $105,000.

A decisive daily close back above the 50-day moving average (around $113,000) is needed to stabilize the market. Failure to do so keeps the psychological $100,000 zone firmly in play and raises the risk of a much deeper bearish phase.

The near-term catalysts remain firmly in the macroeconomic arena, with the upcoming US CPI print and any fresh hints from the Federal Reserve on interest rates likely to be the next major market-moving events.

For now, a battered and bruised crypto market is left to lick its wounds and wait for the storm to pass.

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