Bitcoin News Today: SoFi Merges Banking and Crypto, Offering Secure Trading Through FDIC-Insured App

SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI) has become the first FDIC-insured, nationally chartered bank in the U.S. to launch consumer crypto trading, marking a pivotal expansion of its digital financial ecosystem. The new service, SoFi Crypto, allows members to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL) within the same app they use for banking, borrowing, and investing, all under a regulated framework, according to a financefeeds report. The rollout began in November 2025 and will extend to all users in phases, with early access available via a waitlist, as a Yahoo Finance article notes.

Anthony Noto, SoFi's CEO, emphasized the significance of the move, stating, "Today marks a pivotal moment when banking meets crypto in one app, on a trusted platform." He highlighted blockchain's potential to revolutionize finance by making transactions faster, cheaper, and safer while positioning SoFi as a leader in integrating traditional banking with digital assets, as the financefeeds report notes. The service is built on "bank-grade" security and regulatory oversight, distinguishing it from most crypto exchanges. Users can purchase crypto directly from their FDIC-insured SoFi Money Checking or Savings accounts, eliminating the need to transfer funds to external platforms, as a Yahoo Finance article notes.

The launch aligns with surging retail interest in crypto, as ownership in the U.S. doubled in 2025. A recent SoFi survey revealed that 60% of its crypto-owning members prefer trading through licensed banks over exchanges, underscoring demand for regulated platforms, as the financefeeds report notes. This trend is supported by regulatory clarity from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which in 2025 permitted nationally chartered banks to custody and execute crypto transactions, as a CoinMarketCap article notes. SoFi's reentry into crypto follows a suspension of services in 2023 during its transition to a national bank charter, a requirement for offering integrated financial products, as the Yahoo Finance article notes.

The market response has been positive, with SoFi shares rising nearly 1% on the day of the announcement. The company is offering promotional incentives, including a chance to win one Bitcoin for early adopters who complete qualifying trades by January 31, 2026, as a CoinMarketCap article notes. Competitors like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs have also begun exploring crypto-related services, signaling a broader shift in traditional finance toward digital assets, as the Yahoo Finance article notes.

SoFi's move reflects a broader industry trend as banks increasingly embrace blockchain technology. With regulatory frameworks evolving and consumer demand growing, the integration of crypto into mainstream banking is expected to accelerate, reshaping financial services in the coming years, as a WRAL article notes.