Crypto: Banks' New Frenemy?

Big banks are finally waking up to crypto. They see it as a big deal, maybe even a threat to their business. This is what the head of Coinbase, Brian Armstrong, shared after a big meeting in Davos. He didn't name names, but he said a top boss from one of the world's biggest banks told him crypto is now their "number one priority. " That's a big change. Banks used to ignore or even dismiss crypto. Now, they're paying attention. Crypto is both a challenge and an opportunity for banks. It's a challenge because crypto can do what banks do, but faster and cheaper. It's an opportunity because banks can use crypto to reach more people. Like the 4 billion adults worldwide who don't have access to good investments.Armstrong also talked about tokenization. That's when you turn something into a digital token. It's not just about stablecoins anymore. It's about stocks, loans, and other financial products. He thinks this could be a big trend in the next few years. He also mentioned that the U. S. government is becoming more supportive of crypto. The Trump administration is pushing for clear rules. Armstrong thinks this is important to keep the U. S. competitive. Other countries, like China, are already investing heavily in crypto. Armstrong also talked about AI. He said AI and crypto are closely linked. AI agents might use stablecoins for payments. That could bypass traditional banks altogether. The message is clear: crypto is not a fringe experiment anymore. It's a strategic priority for big financial players. It might even be a matter of survival.