The latest reports reveal that digital asset adoption efforts are intensifying in the EU. Spanish bank Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) received approval from the country’s regulator to offer Bitcoin and Ethereum trading services.

BBVA Will Offer BTC and ETH Exposure to Spanish Clients
According to an official report from Reuters, the Spanish bank confirmed its approval from the national regulator to provide BTC and ETH trading services, allowing its clients to buy, sell, and transfer crypto securely via its application.
The approval comes after a multi-year regulatory process to enter the crypto industry for the bank. In 2020, BBVA planned to penetrate the digital asset sector but regulatory approval was not approved by now, when MiCA regulations are taking effect across Europe.

BBVA initially planned to launch its crypto services from Switzerland rather than Spain or other countries in the European Union because it has a clearer regulatory framework for crypto under the Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).

The MiCA Regulation institutes uniform EU market rules for crypto assets and the regulation’s entry into the EU was officially applied in December 2024.
In January 2025, BBVA also launched crypto trading in Turkey via a local subsidiary, Garanti BBVA Kripto, a local platform operated by Garanti BBVA, Turkey’s fifth largest bank. Bit2Me, a crypto exchange that was founded in Spain in 2014 is used as the bank’s trading execution center.

Crypto Adoption, Intensifying in Europe and the US
Besides BBVA, other important banks are engaging in crypto services across Europe. For instance, the Deutsche Bank provides crypto custody with Taurus, a leading provider of crypto infrastructure since September 2023.

Back then, Taurus announced that Deutsche Bank would leverage its custody and tokenization technology to manage crypto, tokenized assets, and digital currencies.
Also, Société Générale’s SG-FORGE launches a euro-backed stablecoin on the Stellar Network. This expansion will bring new opportunities for users and businesses to access a secure, transparent, and scalable digital euro stablecoin, powered by Stellar’s infrastructure. The announcement was made in February 2025.
Crypto adoption is intensifying in Europe as more banks engage in crypto activities.

This comes as US digital asset adoption efforts are also on the rise, with Trump recently signing an Executive Order for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a Crypto Stockpile, and expecting new stablecoin regulation by August.

Read more

Binance has achieved a remarkable milestone with its stablecoin reserves, raising expectations for growth within the cryptocurrency sector. According to market expert Darkfrost, this increase might indicate favorable trends for traders, particularly following a period marked by instability. With ERC-20 stablecoin reserves now exceeding $31.3 billion, this peak could potentially initiate significant market shifts.

What Factors Drive the Reserve Surge?
The boost in Binance’s stablecoin reserves points to evolving market dynamics. Market insiders suggest that this uptick might be linked to liquidity moving toward Binance, which could foster positive momentum. Darkfrost highlighted that historical data shows similar increases have previously correlated with rising Bitcoin prices and overall market recovery. However, caution is advised as this may merely be an initial signal.

Will MiCA Regulation Influence Market Trends?
In response to MiCA regulations, Binance plans to remove non-compliant ERC-20 tokens by March’s end, a move that may significantly affect the market landscape. This strategy aligns with a growing demand, positioning Binance to adapt to regulatory changes while seizing new opportunities for traders. However, it also poses challenges to existing market dynamics.

Binance’s stablecoin reserves have reached a record high, surpassing $31.3 billion.

Market experts see potential price increases for Bitcoin as a result of this reserve growth.

Regulatory changes under MiCA could reshape trading practices and market behavior.

Traders should remain vigilant due to the uncertain nature of upcoming price movements.

The implications of the rising stablecoin reserves, coupled with regulatory pressures, suggest a potentially volatile period ahead for the cryptocurrency market. Observers are keeping a close eye on developments as traders navigate these shifting tides. The interplay between reserve increases and regulatory compliance will likely shape market sentiment in the near future.

Read more

South Korea is moving closer to a decision on Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), according to a report from local publication Maeil Business Newspaper (MK).
MK notes that the South Korean government is closely monitoring Japan’s evolving stance on digital assets. Japan, previously cautious about crypto, is now reconsidering its regulatory approach.

Financial Supervisory Service (FSA0 of South Korea recently reviewed legislative trends from Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) and shared its findings with relevant institutions. On February 10, Japanese media outlet Nikkei reported that the FSA is considering classifying crypto as a financial product alongside securities, potentially lifting Japan’s ban on crypto ETFs. Discussions are expected to continue through mid-2025, with a legislative plan submitted to Japan’s National Assembly in 2026.

Following a virtual asset committee meeting, Kim So-young, vice chairman of South Korea’s Financial Services Commission, commented on the issue:

“I have continued to say that I would carefully review (spot Bitcoin ETFs), and it is similar in the broader context. There are countries that have not yet introduced it. There are England and Japan.”

Crypto regulation efforts in South Korea persist despite political turmoil. Over 30% of South Koreans invest in digital assets, and the country has maintained its focus on compliance and enforcement.

After the January 15 arrest of former president Yoon Suk Yeol following an attempt to impose martial law, the government has continued regulatory initiatives. On February 13, the Financial Services Commission announced that charities and universities will be permitted to sell crypto donations starting in the second half of 2025.

Enforcement actions have also intensified. On January 16, leading cryptocurrency exchange Upbit received a suspension notice for alleged Know Your Customer (KYC) violations. In response, Upbit filed a lawsuit against South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit to challenge the business sanctions.

Read more

According to initial figures, spot Bitcoin ETFs traded in the U.S. experienced fluctuating movements on the last trading day, March 4, 2025. Notably, Grayscale’s spot Bitcoin ETF saw an influx of $35.8 million. In contrast, Bitwise’s BITB ETF faced an outflow of $24 million, while Ark’s ARKB ETF saw a significant outflow of $43.9 million. On the Ethereum (ETH) side, initial figures indicated positive inflows into Grayscale’s funds.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs Experience Diverse Movements
Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. continue to attract strong interest from investors. According to initial data compiled by Farside Investors, Grayscale’s spot Bitcoin ETF recorded a $35.8 million influx on March 4, 2025. This turnaround was interpreted as a notable recovery signal following recent outflows.

However, outflows were observed from some ETFs. On the same day, ARKB recorded an outflow of $43.9 million, while BITB saw a $24 million outflow. Initial figures for March 4, 2025, indicate that investors are reshaping their strategies towards Bitcoin.

Limited Inflows Seen in Ethereum ETFs
On the Ethereum (ETH) side, Grayscale’s funds attracted attention with some inflows. For the last trading day of March 4, 2025, Grayscale’s Ethereum Trust (ETHE) saw a $10.7 million influx, while Grayscale’s Ethereum ETF (ETH) experienced an $8.5 million inflow.

Based on the initial figures, it appears that outflows dominate in Bitcoin ETFs, while inflows are more pronounced in Ethereum ETFs. This suggests a growing investor interest shifting towards the leading altcoin, ETH. However, inflows into Ethereum ETFs remain limited compared to those in Bitcoin ETFs.

Read more

Major US asset management firm Grayscale Investments has filed a 19b-4 application with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to list and trade the Hedera ETF.

On behalf of Grayscale, the Nasdaq Stock Exchange filed a 19b-4 filing for the Hedera ETF product.

If approved, the Hedera ETF would trade on the Nasdaq exchange, like Grayscale’s other funds. Key details about the fund, such as the custodian chosen for the Hedera ETF, have not been disclosed. However, it has been reported that Coinbase, which is Grayscale’s choice for Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs GBTC and ETHE, could be chosen as the custodian.

Canary Capital led the HBAR filings last week by filing for an HBAR ETF.

This is not Grayscale's first ETF application for altcoins, as it has previously applied for ETFs for Cardano (ADA), Dogecoin (DOGE), Solana (SOL), and XRP.

Apart from popular altcoins, ETF applications have also been made for popular memecoins such as TRUMP, MELANIA, and BONK. According to Bloomberg analysts, while approval rates for XRP, Solana, and Litecoin ETFs remain high, the likelihood of memecoin ETFs receiving approval still remains uncertain.

Read more