May 19, 2026

News Roundup — Banking groups escalate fight over stablecoin yield ahead of Senate vote

Each week we bring you a round-up of the most important Bitcoin and virtual asset-related stories making waves in the cryptosphere.

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May 11, 2026

News Roundup — BNY to launch Bitcoin and Ethereum custody for UAE institutions

Each week we bring you a round-up of the most important Bitcoin and virtual asset-related stories making waves in the cryptosphere.

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May 4, 2026

News Roundup — Western Union to Launch USDPT Stablecoin and Stable Card

Each week we bring you a round-up of the most important Bitcoin and virtual asset-related stories making waves in the cryptosphere.

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April 28, 2026

News Roundup — OKX boosts tokenized RWA push with BlackRock BUIDL

Each week we bring you a round-up of the most important Bitcoin and virtual asset-related stories making waves in the cryptosphere.

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April 13, 2026

News Roundup — Bitcoin payments allowed for Hormuz tanker tolls

Each week we bring you a round-up of the most important Bitcoin and virtual asset-related stories making waves in the cryptosphere.

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News Roundup
April 20, 2026

News Roundup — Spot bitcoin ETFs log nearly $1 billion in weekly inflows, highest since mid-January

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Major news stories this week;

  1. Spot bitcoin ETFs log nearly $1 billion in weekly inflows, highest since mid-January
  2. Coinbase Now Lets UK Users Borrow Against Their Bitcoin and Ethereum
  3. Charles Schwab is bringing Bitcoin to its 39 million clients – but without the protections they expect
  4. Morgan Stanley’s $116M Bitcoin ETF debut is tiny next to $1.9T, and that’s why Wall Street will notice
  5. US Bitcoin ETFs pull in $664M in largest daily inflow since January, because Iran reopened Hormuz for a few hours

Story Summaries;

  1. Spot bitcoin ETFs log nearly $1 billion in weekly inflows, highest since mid-January Spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted close to $1 billion over the week, signalling a renewed risk-on appetite for regulated crypto exposure. A notable contributor was Morgan Stanley’s newly launched MSBT, which recorded solid early allocations in its first full week. The move suggests capital is increasingly favouring exchange-traded access rather than direct custody for many investors.
  2. Coinbase Now Lets UK Users Borrow Against Their Bitcoin and Ethereum Coinbase has introduced crypto-collateralised borrowing for customers in the UK, enabling users to unlock liquidity without selling BTC or ETH. The expansion mirrors services already available in the US and reflects growing demand for simpler on-platform credit options. For the market, it’s another step toward making digital assets more functional within everyday financial planning.
  3. Charles Schwab is bringing Bitcoin to its 39 million clients – but without the protections they expect Schwab plans to add Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for its large client base, bringing crypto nearer to traditional brokerage workflows. The firm is also setting expectations clearly: these assets won’t come with common safety nets associated with bank deposits or securities accounts, and trading will begin with limited functionality and geographic exclusions. The approach underlines mainstream adoption paired with conservative product design and risk disclosure.
  4. Morgan Stanley’s $116M Bitcoin ETF debut is tiny next to $1.9T, and that’s why Wall Street will notice Morgan Stanley’s spot Bitcoin ETF has drawn meaningful initial inflows and entered the market with one of the lowest fee levels among peers. While the numbers are modest compared with the firm’s broader scale, the launch matters because it marks a bank-affiliated asset manager moving decisively into crypto ETPs. The development adds competitive pressure and further normalises Bitcoin exposure within institutional channels.
  5. US Bitcoin ETFs pull in $664M in largest daily inflow since January, because Iran reopened Hormuz for a few hours A major one-day inflow into US Bitcoin ETFs highlighted how quickly macro headlines can shift sentiment and drive allocation decisions. Large issuers captured most of the demand, reinforcing the role of ETF rails as the primary gateway for rapid exposure. However, commentary around the move suggests the market may need continued follow-through from buyers to turn a short-term surge into a durable trend.

And that’s all for last week’s news! Wishing you a great week ahead!