The integration of digital assets by banks, asset managers, and large corporations is no longer an “optional or peripheral” process, according to the audit firm PwC.
In a report on global cryptocurrency regulation for 2026, the company’s experts stated:
“Institutional participation has passed the point of no return.”
In their view, digital assets are no longer confined to trading but are increasingly integrated into payments, interbank settlements, treasury operations, and balance management.
PwC specialists noted the growing use of stablecoins, tokenized funds, and other blockchain products by traditional financial institutions.
The movement of monetary assets using such tools among market participants through internal transfers, cross-border payments, and corporate treasury obligations leads to a close intertwining of the TradFi sector with blockchain-based infrastructure.
By 2026, the global regulatory environment has ceased to be a constraint for the adoption of cryptocurrencies by large companies and institutions, experts believe.
“The regulatory momentum is accelerating, along with the pace of institutional adoption. What is emerging now provides not just clarity but also confidence for institutions to innovate, scale, and integrate digital assets into the core of the global financial system,” the report states.
UBS Prepares to Offer Wealthy Clients Access to Bitcoin Trading
Swiss banking giant UBS, managing $4.7 trillion in assets, is selecting partners to launch cryptocurrency trading services. This is reported by Bloomberg citing its own sources.
Negotiations have been ongoing for several months, and the bank has yet to make a final decision on further actions.
If the initiative is implemented, UBS will initially provide selected clients of its Swiss division access to buying and selling Bitcoin and Ethereum. The offering is then planned to be extended to other markets such as the US and the Asia-Pacific region.
Bloomberg noted that the launch of such a product would mark a significant shift for UBS. The financial holding has long maintained a cautious stance on cryptocurrencies, considering the assets unsuitable for investment due to the risk of a bubble. The bank also highlighted regulatory risks.
According to one of the agency’s interlocutors, UBS’s interest in the crypto segment is linked to growing demand from wealthy clients.
Earlier in January, one of Belgium’s largest banks, KBC, announced the opening of regulated trading in Bitcoin and Ethereum.