Catenaa, Monday, December 15, 2025-PNC Bank began offering spot bitcoin trading to high-net-worth clients through a new link with Coinbase, marking one of the first times a major US lender has enabled direct crypto transactions inside existing investment accounts.
The rollout expands a partnership announced in July and signals a shift in how large banks handle digital-asset services for wealthy customers.
The setup routes Coinbase’s trading and custody systems through PNC’s platform. Clients can buy and sell bitcoin using cash already held in their accounts, and their crypto balances appear next to stocks, bonds and other holdings.
PNC executives said the aim is to keep customers from turning to outside exchanges as they examine digital assets and to retain control of the overall banking relationship.
The bank previously offered only passive exposure through exchange-traded products linked to bitcoin and ether. Direct trading will reach institutional accounts, nonprofits, endowments and foundations early next year as PNC widens access.
Coinbase said the launch reflects rising interest among traditional financial institutions that want crypto capabilities without designing their own infrastructure.
PNC also handles banking and treasury functions for Coinbase as part of the arrangement.
The move comes as major firms broaden digital-asset services.
Bank of America recently set allocation ranges for crypto and plans to start research coverage on several spot bitcoin ETFs in January. Vanguard began allowing trades in funds holding crypto, ending years of limits that had barred such activity on its platform.
PNC’s launch shows how banks are positioning themselves ahead of expected activity in 2026 as clients look for familiar channels to manage digital-asset exposure.
