Italy-based UniCredit SpA announced today it will offer to its professional clients a structured investment product tied to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), offering their clients full capital protection against losses, Bloomberg reported.

“The bank plans to issue a five-year, dollar-denominated investment certificate linked to the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF which will offer a 100% capital protection at maturity,” according to an internal memo seen by Bloomberg News that was also confirmed by the bank.

The maximum return of the investment is up to 85% of the ETF’s performance, with a minimum investment requirement of $25,000, according to the memo. The…

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Bitget Wallet has joined forces with Mastercard and web3 payments firm Immersve to launch a groundbreaking card that lets users pay directly from their crypto wallets. This new card will work at over 150 million merchants worldwide that accept Mastercard making crypto spending more practical than ever. Users in the UK and EU will get first access followed by Latin America Australia and New Zealand soon.

The digital version of the card will be available through the Bitget Wallet app for online and in-store purchases. Cardholders can also earn yield on idle balances enjoy transaction rewards and receive a one-time bonus for identity verification. Immersve will handle crypto-to-fiat settlements onchain while following strict compliance standards.

Bitget Wallet believes this partnership will make crypto payments as easy and secure as traditional transactions and Mastercard agrees. Scott Abrahams from Mastercard said working with Bitget Wallet and Immersve is a critical step to making digital assets part of everyday spending. Crypto-backed cards are rapidly growing and this move pushes digital currency closer to mainstream use.

Deutsche Bank is preparing to introduce a crypto custody service in 2026 as it accelerates efforts to modernize its financial systems and embrace the digital asset economy. The move reflects the growing demand for secure crypto solutions among institutional investors and corporate clients seeking regulated services. The bank is positioning itself alongside other major players entering the crypto custody space.

The upcoming service will focus on safely storing digital assets for clients. Deutsche Bank’s plan highlights its commitment to meeting rising institutional interest in crypto while ensuring compliance with evolving regulations. This careful approach gives the bank time to build reliable infrastructure and meet strict regulatory standards before launch.

The bank is also working on developing an Ethereum layer 2 network using ZKsync technology for faster transactions and better compliance. This project is part of Project Dama 2 and is connected with Singapore’s Project Guardian. A test version went live in November and a full rollout will follow once regulators give the green light.

Bloomberg

Malaysia’s Securities Commission has announced a plan to ease rules for cryptocurrency exchanges by allowing certain digital assets to be listed without prior regulatory approval. The move aims to speed up the listing process give exchanges more responsibility and offer a wider range of crypto products to investors.

Under the proposal digital assets must meet clear conditions including security audits with public results and at least one year of trading on a Financial Action Task Force-compliant platform. The plan highlights the regulator’s effort to boost the local crypto market while ensuring operators stay accountable for their listing decisions.

Public feedback is being sought on whether riskier assets like privacy coins memecoins and low-demand utility tokens should be allowed for trading. The Securities Commission also plans stricter governance and custody requirements including asset segregation stronger financial safeguards and local management oversight to protect investor funds and strengthen market integrity.

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REX Shares could soon make history with its spot Solana staking ETF which may begin trading as early as this week. Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas shared that an updated prospectus filed with the SEC shows the fund is ready to launch with all regulator feedback addressed. The proposed REX-Osprey Solana staking ETF aims to track Solana’s price while offering extra yield through onchain staking rewards giving traditional investors a chance to earn staking income without managing crypto directly.

REX Shares used a rare C-corporation “40 Act” structure to sidestep regulatory barriers that have slowed other staking ETF proposals. Nate Geraci from ETF Store called it a clever workaround that helps clear SEC hurdles. Bloomberg’s James Seyffart agreed saying this creative structure gives REX a first-mover advantage over rival funds still stuck in regulatory review.

REX confirmed the ETF is “coming soon” and called it the first-ever staked crypto ETF in the United States. The company hailed this as a new era for yield-generating crypto investments bringing more opportunities to mainstream finance.