Bitcoin News Today: Legacy Banks Can't Match SoFi's Integrated Crypto Push

SoFi Technologies Inc. has become the first nationally chartered U.S. bank to launch integrated cryptocurrency trading, marking a significant shift in traditional finance's embrace of digital assets. The fintech giant announced the rollout of crypto trading on November 11, 2025, allowing members to buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL) directly within its banking app, bypassing third-party platforms. The service operates under the bank's own infrastructure and regulatory framework, a departure from its previous 2019 partnership with Coinbase, which was suspended in 2023 amid regulatory uncertainty, as Coindesk reported.

The launch follows a March 2025 Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) interpretive letter clarifying that banks could offer crypto services under specific conditions, removing a key regulatory barrier, as Yahoo Finance reported. SoFi CEO Anthony Noto emphasized that this development enabled the firm to provide "bank-grade" security and compliance, distinguishing its offering from crypto exchanges. He noted that traditional banks like JPMorgan and Bank of America are unlikely to replicate the model due to their legacy systems and lack of digital-first architectures, as Yahoo Finance reported.

SoFi's platform integrates crypto trading with FDIC-insured checking and savings accounts, allowing users to fund transactions directly from their bank balances without transferring funds to external wallets. While crypto assets themselves remain uninsured by the FDIC, the bank highlighted its institutional-grade security measures and in-app educational tools to build consumer confidence. The company reported that 60% of its members who hold digital assets prefer managing them through a licensed bank rather than exchanges, as StockTitan reported.

The service is part of SoFi's broader blockchain strategy, which includes plans to introduce a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin by 2026 and expand into blockchain-enabled remittances using the Bitcoin Lightning Network, as Yahoo Finance reported. The bank also aims to integrate crypto into lending products to reduce transaction costs and accelerate payments.

To incentivize adoption, SoFi launched a promotional campaign offering early adopters a chance to win one Bitcoin. Users who join the waitlist by November 30, 2025, open a crypto account, and complete three trades of $10 or more by January 31, 2026, will be entered into a draw, as Coindesk reported. Initial funding for crypto purchases is limited to ACH transfers and USD, with outbound transfers not supported at launch.

The move comes as U.S. crypto ownership doubles in 2025, driven by growing consumer interest in digital assets and a post-election surge in decentralized finance (DeFi) adoption. SoFi's entry into crypto trading positions it as a challenger to traditional banks and crypto-native platforms, leveraging its regulatory credibility to attract risk-conscious users, as Coindesk reported. However, the bank cautioned that crypto remains highly speculative and not FDIC-insured, with values subject to significant volatility.

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SoFi Becomes First Nationally Chartered Bank to Launch Integrated Crypto Trading https://blockchainmagazine.net/sofi-launche-bank-integrated-crypto-trading/

SoFi Bank Relaunches Crypto Trading as First FDIC-Insured US Bank https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sofi-bank-relaunches-crypto-trading-172214829.html

SoFi becomes first U.S. national bank to offer crypto trading https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sofi-becomes-first-u-national-172856667.html

SoFi Bank Becomes the First and Only Nationally Chartered Bank to Launch Crypto Trading for Consumers https://www.stocktitan.net/news/SOFI/so-fi-bank-becomes-the-first-and-only-nationally-chartered-bank-to-khmlyqrs2x7s.html

SoFi Launches Crypto Trading, Citing 'Bank-Level Confidence' as Key Edge https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/11/11/sofi-launches-crypto-trading-citing-bank-level-confidence-as-key-edge