Appold Market Watch - Week ending 18 July 2025
Market Update & Industry News - Week ending 18 July 2025
🔷 Three major digital asset bills passed the U.S. House: the GENIUS Act (stablecoin regulation), the CLARITY Act (asset classification), and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act (restricting Fed-issued CBDCs without congressional approval). The legislative package aims to provide regulatory certainty and delineate oversight responsibilities between the SEC and CFTC.
Appold view: The US is advancing to a more definable regulatory architecture. Establishing a clear regulatory framework for digital assets in the US is continually accelerating institutional adoption and encouraging greater recognition from traditional finance.
🔷 Bank of America (BofA) plans to integrate digital assets into its infrastructure by developing a stablecoin. CEO Brian Moynihan emphasised a cautionary approach but ensured that “investors can expect the lender to move forward with it” as they explore integrating stablecoins into their financial infrastructure. J.P. Morgan and Citi have made similar announcements in anticipation of the post-GENIUS Act environment.
Appold view: Major banks are operationalising regulatory momentum. Stablecoins are transitioning to a systemic function within wholesale and retail banking infrastructure, underscoring the asset class’s institutional permanence.
🔷 The EU’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) has warned crypto exchanges and service providers in all 27 member states about upcoming compliance rules, including bans on anonymous wallets and privacy coins, and mandates for unfiltered account data access, which will be enforced beginning in July 2027.
Appold view: The EU's regulatory rigour reflects its intent to professionalise the digital asset ecosystem. While the compliance threshold may increase, the outcome is a more resilient framework suitable for regulated capital and institutional partnerships.
🔷 Standard Chartered launches a crypto trading desk for Bitcoin and Ether through its existing platforms, becoming the first major UK bank to provide spot crypto services to institutional clients. The move follows growing demand for digital assets, giving clients access “safely and efficiently within regulatory requirements”, says Chief Executive Bill Winters.
Appold view: Traditional financial institutions are no longer observers as client-driven demand drives action. Standard Chartered’s expanded presence in this sector affirms that digital asset services are now an increasingly expected offering within institutional banking and capital markets.
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