Bitcoin has surged to a new all-time high, surpassing $123,000, marking a significant increase from $108,000 just a week prior. This rally has positioned Bitcoin as the fifth most valuable asset globally, with a market capitalization of $2.4 trillion, surpassing Amazon.
The surge in Bitcoin's price coincides with "crypto week" in the U.S. Congress, where lawmakers are set to consider several pro-cryptocurrency bills, including regulations on stablecoins and broader market structure reforms. President Donald Trump, now in his second term, has expressed strong support for the crypto industry, pledging to make the U.S. the global center for digital assets. He and his family are heavily invested in various crypto ventures.
In a significant move, Standard Chartered has become the first major global bank to offer direct spot cryptocurrency trading services, beginning with Bitcoin and Ether paired against the U.S. dollar. Targeted at institutional clients such as corporates, asset managers, and investors, the service launched on July 15, 2025, and will soon include non-deliverable forwards. This initiative reflects the growing integration of cryptocurrencies into mainstream finance and the increasing demand among traditional financial institutions for crypto-related services.
However, the rapid growth of the crypto market has raised concerns among regulators. Europe’s newly established anti-money laundering watchdog, the EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority , has identified crypto assets as the top money laundering threat facing the region. Chair Bruna Szego emphasized the sector’s high exposure to money laundering and terrorism financing, exacerbated by the fragmented nature of the EU market and the anonymity, cross-border capabilities, and speed of crypto transactions.
In the United States, the Trump administration has been actively involved in the crypto sector. Aqua 1 Foundation, a little-known cryptocurrency venture claiming to be based in the UAE, recently invested $100 million in World Liberty Financial, a crypto platform tied to President Donald Trump. This makes Aqua 1 the largest publicly known investor in the venture, which has generated approximately $500 million for the Trump family since launching last fall.
As the crypto market continues to evolve, the interplay between regulatory bodies, financial institutions, and government policies will play a crucial role in shaping the future of digital assets.
