GoTyme Bank has officially rolled out its integrated cryptocurrency service, becoming the first digital bank in the Philippines to allow users to buy and hold crypto directly inside their banking app. The move marks a major leap forward for local digital finance and could accelerate mainstream crypto adoption across Southeast Asia.

Crypto Trading Built Directly Into Banking

Through a partnership with U.S. fintech firm Alpaca, GoTyme now lets customers trade 11 major cryptocurrencies—including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Binance Coin (BNB)—without needing a separate exchange account. Everything happens inside the GoTyme mobile app, allowing users to check balances, move funds, and buy digital assets within one regulated interface.

Because GoTyme operates under the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the new crypto feature carries the same compliance and security standards as traditional banking services.

A Major Convenience Upgrade for Filipino Crypto Users

The integration solves several long-standing pain points in the local crypto space:

• No more switching between apps: Bank deposits, cash-ins, and crypto purchases happen in one place.
• Bank-grade security: Assets benefit from GoTyme’s authentication and encryption systems.
• Lower barriers to entry: New investors can access crypto without dealing with complicated onboarding or third-party platforms.
• Institutional trust: Many Filipinos remain wary of independent crypto exchanges; GoTyme’s banking framework reduces that friction.

Why the Alpaca Partnership Matters

Alpaca provides the backend crypto brokerage technology, enabling GoTyme to meet international standards for digital asset trading. This reflects a growing global trend: banks are increasingly integrating crypto instead of competing with standalone Web3 platforms.

For GoTyme, the partnership ensures the service is scalable, compliant, and capable of evolving as crypto regulations mature.

Regulatory and Market Challenges Ahead

While innovative, the service launches amid a cautious regulatory environment. The BSP maintains strong oversight of crypto activity, requiring strict anti-money laundering monitoring. Volatility also remains a core risk, particularly for first-time investors.

GoTyme’s regulated structure may, however, help set a responsible precedent for Philippine banks exploring digital asset services.

A Boost for Financial Inclusion

By offering digital assets through an accessible platform, GoTyme could help introduce investing to a wider population—especially younger, tech-savvy Filipinos. The move positions the Philippines as a regional fintech innovator and may push other local banks to explore similar offerings.

A New Era for Digital Finance in the Philippines

GoTyme’s crypto service marks a turning point for the country’s financial ecosystem. By merging traditional banking with digital assets, the bank is democratizing access, improving convenience, and breaking down barriers for millions of potential crypto participants.

As Southeast Asia’s crypto landscape grows, this launch could influence how Filipinos—and eventually neighboring countries—interact with digital assets in their everyday financial lives.

Grayscale’s new GLNK product debuted with $64 million in assets under management, raising $42 million on day one and offering institutions regulated, custody-free access to Chainlink’s LINK token.

Grayscale Investments has launched the Chainlink exchange-traded product GLNK, which began trading on NYSE Arca and opened with $64 million in assets under management, including $42 million of inflows on its first day. The physically backed ETP holds LINK tokens directly and is designed to give institutional and brokerage-channel investors exposure to Chainlink without the need to manage wallets or private keys.

Institutional Access, Simplified Custody

GLNK provides a familiar, regulated route for institutions that want LINK exposure through traditional brokerage accounts. By holding LINK on behalf of investors, Grayscale eliminates the operational burdens of self-custody—an important consideration for asset managers and fiduciaries that face strict custody and compliance requirements.

Michael Sonnenshein, CEO of Grayscale Investments, framed GLNK as a bridge between institutional capital and Chainlink’s on-chain infrastructure, describing the product as a first-of-its-kind U.S. ETP to hold LINK directly.

Market Effects and Early Metrics

The product’s debut quickly affected market activity. Reporting indicates a 180% rise in LINK trading volume around the launch and a roughly 6% price uptick amid otherwise tepid market conditions. Early inflows mirror patterns seen when other regulated products—most notably Bitcoin ETFs—attracted concentrated institutional capital and shifted price-discovery dynamics.

Analysts suggest GLNK may gradually tilt LINK’s liquidity and price sensitivity toward institutional flows rather than purely on-chain demand. If historical precedents hold, large, sustained inflows into a regulated product can become a dominant price driver independent of token utility metrics.

What Comes Next

Market watchers will be tracking sustained AUM growth, redemption behavior, and whether GLNK draws capital away from on-chain liquidity pools. The ETP’s performance, and how quickly it attracts capital beyond the initial surge, will determine its longer-term impact on LINK’s market structure and price formation.

BPCE, France’s second-largest banking group, has officially introduced cryptocurrency trading within its retail banking apps — a milestone that brings digital assets directly into the country’s mainstream financial system. Through Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne, millions of French clients will now be able to buy and hold major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana without leaving their traditional banking environment.

The move positions BPCE as one of the largest global banks to integrate crypto trading at scale, marking a significant evolution in the relationship between traditional finance and digital assets.

Crypto Trading Integrated Into Banking Apps

BPCE’s rollout allows users to access cryptocurrencies directly inside the same mobile apps they use for everyday banking. The offering is launching in phases, initially targeting retail clients across France.
BPCE’s digital-asset arm, Hexarq, is handling the crypto infrastructure, while senior leadership — including Nicolas Namias, Chairman of the Management Board — oversees the integration strategy.

The addition of crypto marks one of the most significant product expansions in French retail banking, signaling stronger institutional acceptance of digital assets in regulated environments.

Retail Impact: Direct Access to BTC, ETH, SOL

French retail customers will now have convenient access to:

• Bitcoin (BTC)
• Ether (ETH)
• Solana (SOL)

Notably, the service does not include memecoins, DeFi governance tokens, or higher-risk digital assets — reinforcing BPCE’s cautious, compliance-driven approach.

The integration improves France’s fiat on-ramp infrastructure and gives mainstream users a simplified introduction to digital assets without needing external crypto exchanges.

Regulatory Alignment and Compliance

The offering aligns with France’s regulatory framework for Digital Asset Service Providers (DASPs), requiring registration with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF). By staying within structured regulatory requirements, BPCE ensures consumer protection while expanding investment access.

Cécile Ferrandez-Paugam, Head of Digital and Innovation / Payments & Digital at BPCE, said:
“This initiative demonstrates our commitment to innovation and meeting our customers’ growing interest in digital assets.”

Broader Market Implications

BPCE’s entrance into crypto trading could meaningfully influence adoption across France’s financial sector. The scale of BPCE’s retail presence makes it one of the most impactful banking-driven crypto integrations to date, potentially inspiring similar moves by European banking peers.

The initiative mirrors earlier digital-asset programs launched by institutions such as BBVA Switzerland, but BPCE differentiates itself through its broader retail focus and full in-app integration.