Big banks running crypto pilots with Coinbase, CEO says
Coinbase CEO says major global banks are running live cryptocurrency pilot programs using Coinbase’s platform and technology. The pilots, which test custody, settlement and tokenization use cases, involve several large banks and are intended to explore institutional access to digital assets and token-based products. Coinbase positions these pilots as collaborations to evaluate custody services, tokenized deposits and settlement efficiencies rather than full production launches. The company highlights institutional demand for custody and tokenization solutions and frames the work as part of broader efforts to provide regulated infrastructure for banks and institutional clients. No specific bank names, timelines or dollar figures were disclosed.
Bullish
Announcements that major banks are actively piloting crypto services with a regulated exchange like Coinbase are generally bullish for market sentiment. Institutional pilots signal growing interest and potential future demand for custody, settlement and tokenized products — all of which expand on-ramps for capital into crypto markets. While pilots do not guarantee adoption, they reduce regulatory and operational uncertainty by testing compliant infrastructure with established players. In the short term, expect positive sentiment-driven flows into major liquid assets (BTC, ETH) and service providers; volatility may rise on speculation. In the medium to long term, successful bank integrations and tokenization use cases could increase institutional holdings and liquidity, supporting higher valuations and deeper markets. Historical parallels include growing institutional custody announcements (e.g., Anchorage, Fidelity) that preceded steady institutional inflows. Risks remain: negative regulatory rulings or failed pilots could reverse sentiment.