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Bitcoin Policy Institute to review Fed Basel proposal to ensure fair Bitcoin treatment

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Bitcoin Policy Institute to review Fed Basel proposal to ensure fair Bitcoin treatment

The Bitcoin Policy Institute said it plans to review and respond to an upcoming proposal from the Federal Reserve that could shape how U.S. banks treat Bitcoin under international banking standards.

Summary

  • The Bitcoin Policy Institute plans to review and comment on an upcoming Federal Reserve proposal on Basel rules.
  • The proposal will open a 90-day public comment period for industry feedback.
  • Current Basel guidance assigns Bitcoin a 1250% risk weighting, discouraging banks from holding or servicing the asset.

Bitcoin Policy Institute to weigh in as Fed prepares Basel proposal for banks

According to Conner Brown, the Federal Reserve is expected to issue a public proposal next week outlining how American banks should implement risk-weighting guidance under the Basel Accords.

The proposal will apply to the largest U.S. banks and will open a 90-day public comment period, allowing industry participants, policy groups and financial institutions to submit feedback before the rules are finalized.

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Brown said the institute intends to participate in the process to ensure regulators “get Bitcoin’s treatment right.”

Under the Basel framework, Bitcoin (BTC) is currently assigned a 1250% risk weighting, which effectively treats the cryptocurrency as a highly risky asset on bank balance sheets. Such a requirement forces banks to hold significantly higher levels of capital against Bitcoin exposure compared with most traditional assets.

Critics argue that this classification makes it difficult for banks to provide financial services to Bitcoin users and companies, as the capital requirements can discourage institutions from interacting with the sector.

“The Federal Reserve just announced that next week they will issue a public proposal for how banks should implement Basel risk weighting guidance,” Brown said in a post on X, adding that the think tank would review the document and submit a formal public comment.

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The upcoming consultation comes as policymakers in the United States continue to debate how digital assets should fit within the global banking regulatory framework.

Industry advocates say the outcome of the Federal Reserve’s proposal could play a key role in determining whether traditional financial institutions expand or limit their engagement with Bitcoin-related services in the future.

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Crypto World

Hong Kong to Approve First Stablecoin Licenses for Banks

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Hong Kong to Approve First Stablecoin Licenses for Banks

HSBC Holdings and a joint venture led by Standard Chartered are reportedly set to become the first authorized stablecoin issuers in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is expected to issue stablecoin licenses to HSBC and Standard Chartered, the South China Morning Post reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. HSBC and Standard Chartered are set to be in the first batch as authorities reportedly prioritize institutions already authorized to issue banknotes in the city.

The Hong Kong government, through the HKMA, authorizes banknote issuance to three commercial banks, including local branches of HSBC, Standard Chartered and the Bank of China.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has not confirmed the names of any successful applicants. Standard Chartered declined to comment, and HSBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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The approvals would mark a major step toward Hong Kong’s ambition to become a global digital asset hub despite neighboring mainland China reportedly making it harder to launch stablecoins in the region.

HKMA targets the first stablecoin licenses in March

According to the SCMP, the number of licenses and timetable had yet to be finalized and remained subject to change, but the sources indicated a possible date on March 24.

Though unconfirmed, potential stablecoin issuer licenses for HSBC and Standard Chartered would align with earlier reports that the HKMA planned to grant the first licenses in March 2026.

Hong Kong has not yet approved any stablecoin issuer. Source: HKMA

HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Yue said in February that the regulator expects the first batch of stablecoin issuer licenses to include a “very small number” of issuers.

The Hong Kong government enforced the Stablecoin Ordinance, a statutory framework for regulating stablecoins, in August 2025, making it illegal to offer or promote unlicensed fiat-referenced stablecoins to retail investors.

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Related: China’s Alibaba joins stablecoin platform MetaComp’s $35M fundraise

In September, the HKMA said it received applications from 36 institutions for a license to issue stablecoins. HSBC and Standard Chartered were among the institutions that were reported to be planning to apply, alongside the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

Magazine: China’s ‘50x’ blockchain boost, Alibaba-linked AI mines Bitcoin: Asia Express