Bitcoin Recent Updates: Institutions, Banks, and Treasuries Deepen Their Role

Bitcoin is moving deeper into traditional finance through banks, public companies, and regulated investment products. Over the past few weeks, major institutions have expanded Bitcoin holdings, opened direct trading for wealthy clients, tested new yield models, and placed Bitcoin symbols inside Wall Street landmarks. 

Strategy’s Recent Move

Last November, Strategy announced it is creating a US dollar reserve worth $1.44 billion. The purpose of this reserve is simple and practical. It is designed to support dividend payments on the company’s preferred stock and to cover interest on its outstanding debt.

According to the company, this reserve is funded through proceeds from the sale of its Class A common stock under its at-the-market offering program. Strategy stated that its current goal is to maintain enough cash to fund at least 12 months of dividend payments. Over time, the firm plans to strengthen the reserve to cover 24 months or more.

Bitcoin is volatile, and relying only on BTC holdings to meet fixed obligations can create pressure during market downturns. By holding a dedicated cash reserve, Strategy wants to separate short-term financial needs from long-term Bitcoin exposure.

Alongside this announcement, Strategy disclosed a new Bitcoin purchase.

• The company bought 130 Bitcoin for $11.7 million
• Total holdings now stand at 650,000 BTC
• The total acquisition cost is $48.38 billion

The number itself is symbolic. Holding 650,000 BTC places Strategy in a unique position among public companies, with influence over market perception but without direct control over the network.

The company also shared how the reserve fits into its balance sheet.

• The $1.44 billion reserve equals 2.2% of enterprise value
• It represents 2.8% of equity value
• It equals 2.4 % of the value of its Bitcoin holdings

PNC Bank Offers Spot Bitcoin Trading

Banks in the United States are moving carefully but steadily into Bitcoin services. A major update came on Dec. 9, when PNC Bank began offering direct spot Bitcoin trading to eligible private bank clients.

This makes PNC the first major US bank to allow clients to buy, hold, and sell Bitcoin directly within its own digital platform.

The service is part of PNC’s partnership with Coinbase, first announced in July. The bank uses Coinbase’s Crypto-as-a-Service infrastructure for trading and custody. This means clients interact with Bitcoin through PNC, while Coinbase provides the backend systems.

PNC Private Bank focuses on high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and business owners. The bank has stated that it plans to expand access to other client groups and add more features over time.

This matters because PNC is not a small institution.

• It is the eighth-largest commercial bank in the US
• It holds about $564 billion in assets
• It operates more than 2,300 branches nationwide

Most large US banks have avoided direct Bitcoin trading so far. Instead, they focus on custody or indirect exposure through regulated products. 

Bank of America Opens Access to Bitcoin

On Dec. 2, Bank of America said it will allow wealth management clients to access four Bitcoin ETFs starting next year. These funds are issued by Bitwise, Fidelity, Grayscale, and BlackRock.

Bitcoin ETFs give investors exposure to Bitcoin’s price without requiring them to manage wallets or private keys. The ETF structure also fits neatly into existing brokerage accounts, making it easier for advisors to recommend.

This approach reflects how many banks prefer to manage risk.

• ETFs operate under established regulatory frameworks
• Custody and compliance are handled by fund providers
• Investors avoid direct interaction with the Bitcoin network

Strive Announces a $500M Stock Sales Program to Support Bitcoin Purchase

Strategy is not alone in using capital markets to accumulate Bitcoin. Another update came from Strive, a publicly traded asset manager and Bitcoin treasury company.

Strive announced a $500 million stock sales program to raise funds for general corporate purposes. These include acquiring Bitcoin and Bitcoin-related products, as well as working capital.

The firm was co-founded in 2022 by Vivek Ramaswamy and has steadily increased its Bitcoin exposure.

• Strive holds 7,525 BTC
• The holdings are worth about $694 million at current prices
• It ranks as the 14th-largest corporate Bitcoin holder

Strive pivoted to a Bitcoin treasury model through a public reverse merger in May. In September, it agreed to acquire Semler Scientific, which helped position the combined company among the largest corporate holders of BTC.

Animoca Brands Partners With Solv Protocol

On Dec. 10, Animoca Brands partnered with Solv Protocol to help corporations generate yield from Bitcoin treasuries.

Animoca Brands brings its institutional network, while Solv provides infrastructure. The target audience includes corporations and listed entities with large Bitcoin holdings.

The partnership will use Solv’s universal Bitcoin-backed wrapper. This system allows firms to earn an annual percentage yield between 4 percent and 12 percent.

According to Solv’s white paper, yield comes from:

• Lending markets
• Liquidity provision to automated market maker pools
• Participation in structured staking programs

Animoca Brands Japan CEO Kensuke Amo said most companies only hold Bitcoin today. The goal is to allow firms to use Bitcoin as a productive financial asset without selling it.

Solv CEO Ryan Chow added that the protocol aims to deliver secure and compliant treasury solutions for forward-thinking corporations in Japan.

NYSE Hosts a Satoshi Nakamoto Statue

On Dec. 11, the New York Stock Exchange became the sixth location to host Valentina Picozzi’s “disappearing” Satoshi Nakamoto statue.

The installation was placed by Bitcoin-focused firm Twenty One Capital, which began trading this week. The NYSE described the statue as shared ground between emerging systems and established institutions.

For years, Bitcoin was seen as incompatible with Wall Street. Seeing a Satoshi statue inside the NYSE would have been unthinkable not long ago.

The installation coincided with the anniversary of the Bitcoin mailing list, launched by Satoshi Nakamoto on Dec. 10, 2008.

Worth noting, Satoshi Nakamoto mined the genesis block on Jan. 3, 2009, creating the first 50 Bitcoin. Early adoption was limited to developers and cryptography enthusiasts.

In 2010, programmer Laszlo Hanyecz made the first recorded purchase using Bitcoin by paying 10,000 BTC for two pizzas. At the time, Bitcoin had little perceived value.

Over the years, Bitcoin faced skepticism from banks, regulators, and governments. Some efforts, such as Operation Chokepoint 2.0, were seen as attempts to restrict access to crypto services.

Despite this, Bitcoin survived multiple market cycles and gained a global user base.

Itaú Asset Management Recommends Bitcoin

Itaú Asset Management, part of Brazil’s largest private bank, recently recommended holding 1% to 3% of portfolios in Bitcoin next year.

In a research note, Itaú Asset’s Renato Eid cited geopolitical tension, shifting monetary policy, and currency risk as reasons to consider Bitcoin as a complementary asset.

He described Bitcoin as distinct from fixed income and traditional stocks, with its own dynamics and a currency hedging function due to its global and decentralized nature.

Bitcoin’s price has been volatile. It began 2025 near $95,000, fell toward $80,000 during the tariff crisis, surged to a high of $125,000, and then returned to around $95,000.

Brazilian investors felt sharper swings because the Brazilian real strengthened by about 15% this year. 

Even so, Itaú’s internal data showed low correlation between its Bitcoin ETF, BITI11, and other asset classes. 

Conclusion

Bitcoin’s recent updates show steady integration into traditional finance rather than sudden disruption. Public companies are refining treasury strategies, banks are expanding access through both direct trading and ETFs, and new systems are emerging to manage Bitcoin yield responsibly.

From Wall Street symbols to corporate balance sheets, Bitcoin is now treated as a financial asset with defined risks, controls, and use cases. These developments reflect maturity in how institutions approach Bitcoin, focusing on structure, compliance, and long-term management.

Resources

1. Strategy’s filing with the US SEC: Establishment of a US dollar Reserve

2. Press release by PNC Bank: PNC First Major Bank to Launch Direct Bitcoin Access for Clients, Powered by Coinbase's Crypto-as-a-Service Infrastructure

3. Press release by Strive: Strive Announces $500,000,000 SATA At-The-Market Program

4. Report by CoinTelegraph: Animoca, Solv to help Japanese Bitcoin companies generate yield

5. Itaú Asset Management’s note: O Bitcoin em 2026: entre previsões e realidade