Bitcoin continued to trade steadily around the US$63,000 mark as renewed institutional inflows and landmark developments from Circle and Swift underscored the accelerating integration of digital assets into the global financial system, according to Simon Peters, Crypto Analyst at eToro.
Bitcoin remained relatively stable over the past week as markets absorbed the latest minutes from the US Federal Reserve’s June meeting. While policymakers agreed to keep interest rates unchanged, the minutes revealed differing views on the future path of monetary policy, with some officials leaving the door open to further rate hikes should inflation remain persistent, while others pointed to the possibility of holding or lowering rates if inflation continues to ease.
Despite the cautious macroeconomic backdrop, investor sentiment towards bitcoin showed signs of improvement. US spot bitcoin ETFs returned to net inflows after several weeks of outflows, with more than US$265 million flowing into the products on Monday alone, signalling renewed institutional appetite for the asset class.
Markets are now turning their attention to upcoming US inflation data, including the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI), as well as testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh before the Senate Banking Committee, all of which could influence digital asset markets in the coming days.
Commenting on the market, Simon Peters, Crypto Analyst at eToro, said:“Bitcoin has continued to trade within a relatively stable range despite ongoing uncertainty around US monetary policy. The return of inflows into spot bitcoin ETFs is encouraging and may indicate improving institutional sentiment. At the same time, we’re seeing continued progress in the adoption of blockchain technology by established financial institutions, reinforcing the long-term investment case for digital assets.”
Circle secures landmark US banking approval
In one of the week’s most significant industry developments, Circle, issuer of the USDC stablecoin, received final approval from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish Circle National Trust, a federally regulated national trust bank.
The approval allows Circle to provide regulated digital asset custody services while strengthening the infrastructure supporting USDC under the framework established by the GENIUS Act. The move marks another important milestone in the convergence of traditional finance and blockchain-based financial services.
Swift launches blockchain pilot with 17 global banks
Adding to the week’s momentum, global payments network Swift announced the launch of its blockchain-based shared ledger platform, with 17 leading international banks preparing to pilot live cross-border transactions using tokenised bank deposits.
Participating institutions include BNP Paribas, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Standard Chartered, UBS and Wells Fargo, highlighting the growing adoption of blockchain technology by traditional financial institutions seeking faster, more efficient cross-border payments while maintaining existing compliance and settlement standards.
Swift’s network connects more than 11,500 financial institutions across over 200 countries and territories, making this one of the largest real-world blockchain payment pilots to date.
Zcash leads weekly gains
Among major cryptocurrencies, Zcash (ZEC) was one of the strongest performers last week, rising 14% after being featured on Forbes’ list of top cryptocurrencies to watch in 2026. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and Hyperliquid were also included in the publication’s selection.
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