Coinbase and IBM deepen bank crypto infrastructure as institutional adoption accelerates

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Coinbase has expanded its digital-asset services to over 200 financial institutions globally, including PNC Bank and Standard Chartered, by integrating Bitcoin custody, funding rails, and stablecoin payments into banking workflows.

Coinbase’s latest partnerships—with Stablecore and Moov—extend custody, trading, and stablecoin services to thousands of U.S. banks and credit unions. PNC Bank will offer Bitcoin services to private clients via Coinbase’s platform, while Standard Chartered has integrated multi-currency funding rails. The partnerships aim to embed crypto services directly into banking systems, reducing friction for institutions hesitant to adopt standalone crypto platforms.

The expansion coincides with a 40-of-50 major cryptocurrency rally on Pluang on September 26, with Decentraland (MANA) up 4.72%, Solana (SOL) gaining 4.09%, and Uniswap (UNI) climbing 4.08%. The broader market uptick reflects growing institutional interest, though regulatory uncertainty remains a hurdle.

IBM’s Digital Asset Haven beta now supports tokenized deposit transactions on Swift’s shared ledger, allowing banks to use existing ISO 20022 payment standards. The system enables 24/7 digital asset movement while maintaining final settlement through traditional banking channels. Seventeen banks are piloting the technology, which was developed in collaboration with Consensys and over 40 financial institutions.

IBM also announced an on-premises beta deployment of Digital Asset Haven, catering to institutions prioritizing data sovereignty. The platform, launched in October 2025, supports stablecoins and tokenized deposits and can run on IBM Z or LinuxONE. The move follows IBM’s July 2026 sale of nearly 1,000 blockchain patents to Circle Internet Financial, signaling a strategic shift from patent monetization to direct infrastructure provision.

J.P. Morgan Payments reported that 93% of financial institutions are modernizing payments infrastructure, with many exploring digital asset use cases. However, compliance and operational hurdles remain barriers. Coinbase’s strategy positions it as a default infrastructure provider for institutions wary of standalone crypto platforms.

Regulatory clarity remains elusive. The U.S. Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act, which would impose stricter oversight on stablecoin issuers, has stalled in Congress. A White House analysis estimated that even a stablecoin yield ban would boost bank lending by just 0.02%, suggesting limited economic impact.

For Malaysian financial institutions, the shift toward tokenization and digital asset integration presents both opportunity and challenge. While Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has restricted retail crypto participation, the adoption of bank-issued stablecoins or tokenized deposits remains unaddressed. The success of Swift’s tokenized deposit pilot and Coinbase’s bank partnerships will determine whether Malaysia’s financial sector follows the global trend—or lags behind.

The bottom line is clear: crypto infrastructure is no longer optional for banks. The question now is whether Malaysian institutions will leverage proven standards like ISO 20022 and Swift’s ledger to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital assets—before competitors do.

Related: Coinbase · Tom McPherson