“Resistance of the Old Guard” or the “Birth of a New Order”? The True Reason U.S. Banks are Braking Crypto

The “Lost 30 Years” has morphed into a “Lost Present Continuous,” and the value of the Japanese yen is quietly but surely melting away. In such a climate of crisis, reaching for the “lifeboat” of crypto assets (cryptocurrency) can be described as a fundamental survival instinct for the modern age.

However, news reaching us from across the Pacific often causes confusion. “The U.S. banking industry has put a stop to crypto entry”—closing your browser and thinking “I knew it was dangerous” based on this headline alone would be a massive missed opportunity.

By reading this article to the end, you should be able to grasp the “true face of the fear” that traditional finance is desperately resisting, as well as the outline of the “massive opportunity” that lies beyond this friction.

A “Turf War” Before the Giant Awakens

The American Bankers Association (ABA) recently urged the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to proceed cautiously with the approval of crypto-related trust bank charters. It would be far too naive to interpret this move as mere “concern for safety.” This is a warning shot fired by the masters of the “old castle”—the traditional financial system—against the “emerging forces” appearing at their gates.

The reasons they claim can be summarized into the following three points:

• “No rules, no entry”: An intention to delay approvals by using the fact that regulatory frameworks (such as those involving GENIUS) are still incomplete as a shield.
• “Equip them with our same heavy armor”: A desire to impose the heavy regulatory costs borne by traditional banks onto agile crypto firms, effectively shackling them in the name of “fair competition.”
• The “Consumer Protection” pretext: Attempting to raise the hurdles for approval to the extreme under the banner of safety.

However, consider this: Would giant banks engage in such feverish lobbying against something that was truly worthless or a mere bubble?

The answer is no. This is a reflection of the fact that cryptocurrency has grown into a “threat that cannot be ignored,” one capable of shaking the very foundations of the existing banking system. It is, so to speak, the “birthing pains” of a new technology being integrated into society—nothing less than the historical process of resistance to innovation repeating itself.

True “Buying Opportunities” Lurk Within the Chaos

When regulations tighten and procedures become opaque, a “fog of anxiety” settles over the market. Prices adjust, and bearish voices grow louder. However, professional investors welcome this “fog.”

This is because by the time regulations are perfectly established and everyone gives their “stamp of approval” for safety, the lucrative early-mover advantages will have entirely vanished. The current friction is a necessary purification process required to eventually create a “transparent ocean” where institutional “whales” can swim with confidence.

What we should do now is not retreat, driven by noise. Rather, we must calmly assess these structural changes and update our knowledge and environment in preparation for the coming “phase of full-scale adoption.”

Instead of fearing “things you don’t understand,” learn their true nature and deconstruct the risks to a manageable level. Only those who do not neglect this process can turn the turbulent waves of change into a tailwind for wealth building.

Only “Those Who Never Stopped Thinking” Laugh Last

“I should have started back then.”

In the history of investing, these words are always a regret voiced after a period of “opaque regulatory debate.” Conversely, the resistance from U.S. banks may well be the prelude to a “declaration of victory.”

Do not be swallowed by the deluge of information. Now is the time to select reliable platforms and feel the “pulse of the market,” even with small amounts. Years from now, when you look back at today’s regulatory turmoil, will you realize it was the perfect time to build your position, or will you once again lament a missed opportunity?

That turning point depends on whether you perceive this news as a “rejection” or as the “first stirrings” of a new era.

Note: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment solicitation or advice. Please make investment decisions at your own discretion.

This article is also available in Japanese.