Summary:
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Bitcoin rose as institutional crypto sentiment improved
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PwC signalled a strategic shift toward crypto services
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US regulatory clarity seen as key catalyst
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GENIUS Act boosted confidence in stablecoins and tokenisation
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Big-firm engagement reinforces long-term adoption narrative
Bitcoin extended gains today as signs of deepening institutional engagement in digital assets reinforced confidence that the US regulatory backdrop has shifted decisively in favour of crypto adoption. Adding to the constructive tone, professional services giant PwC signalled a strategic pivot toward the sector, underscoring how regulatory clarity is reshaping risk perceptions across blue-chip institutions.
PwC’s US senior partner and chief executive Paul Griggs said the firm will “lean in” to crypto-related work after years of caution, citing recent US legislative and regulatory developments, particularly around stablecoins, as a turning point. Griggs argued that the passage of comprehensive digital-asset rules has increased conviction in crypto as an investable and operational asset class, prompting PwC to expand its auditing, advisory and consulting services for crypto-native firms and traditional corporates alike.
Central to the shift is the GENIUS Act, signed into law last year, which established the first clear federal framework for stablecoins pegged to assets such as the US dollar. The legislation set out custody, reserve and disclosure standards and opened the door for banks and large financial institutions to issue their own digital tokens. PwC executives said the move has removed years of regulatory ambiguity that previously kept major firms on the sidelines.
The firm also highlighted growing interest among clients in using stablecoins to improve payment efficiency and liquidity management, while pointing to tokenisation as a structural trend that will continue to reshape capital markets. PwC’s decision to be “hyper-engaged” in the crypto ecosystem reflects a broader recalibration underway across professional services, banking and asset management.
The regulatory shift has been reinforced by the Trump administration’s pro-crypto stance, including the appointment of digital-asset-friendly regulators and a move away from enforcement-led oversight toward formal rulemaking. Under President Donald Trump, the policy environment has become markedly more supportive, encouraging large institutions to reassess earlier concerns around compliance risk, custody and reputational exposure.
For Bitcoin, the signal matters. Institutional validation from a Big Four firm like PwC strengthens the narrative that crypto is transitioning from a fringe asset into core financial infrastructure. As regulatory clarity draws in auditors, consultants and payment providers, investors increasingly view Bitcoin as a beneficiary of a maturing ecosystem, a dynamic that helped underpin price.
