SoFi Makes History as First US National Bank to Offer Crypto Trading—Wall Street Scrambles to Catch Up

Fintech giant SoFi just bulldozed through Wall Street's last resistance to crypto—becoming the first nationally chartered US bank to let customers trade digital assets alongside traditional investments.

The move signals a tectonic shift in mainstream finance's acceptance of cryptocurrency, forcing legacy institutions to either adapt or become obsolete in an increasingly decentralized financial landscape.

While traditional banks still debate crypto's merits, SoFi's 3 million members can now seamlessly swap between stocks, ETFs and digital currencies in one platform—no more jumping through hoops at unregulated offshore exchanges.

The rollout includes Bitcoin, Ethereum and eight major altcoins, with plans to expand offerings as regulatory clarity improves (read: when politicians finally stop grandstanding and write coherent rules).

Banking traditionalists scoffed—right up until they saw the 300% surge in SoFi's crypto-related revenue last quarter. Suddenly every JPMorgan VP is 'passionately interested in blockchain' over martini lunches.

One thing's certain: The dam has broken. With a nationally chartered bank now onboard, crypto's march toward financial inevitability just hit warp speed—whether the old guard likes it or not.

SoFi Puts Banking And Crypto In One App

According to SoFi’s investor release, around 12.6 million members use its products now, and the crypto feature will roll out in phases to that user base over the next few weeks.

The company says members can MOVE money from their SoFi checking or savings accounts directly into crypto trades without opening a separate account.

SOFI BANK LAUNCHES CRYPTO TRADING & XRP chainlink ETF NEWS!

WATCHhttps://t.co/29c7Qf3JwB#crypto #cryptonews #bitcoin #sofi #bank #xrp #chainlink #etf #thinkingcrypto pic.twitter.com/gAPNNyqUx6

— Tony Edward (Thinking Crypto Podcast) (@ThinkingCrypto1) November 12, 2025

“Today marks a pivotal moment when banking meets crypto in one app,” SoFi CEO Anthony Noto said in a press release statement. Noto added that it is “critical to give our members a secure and regulated way to step into the future of money.”

The launch also includes a waitlist promotion: sign up by November 30 to get priority, and meet simple activity rules by January 31, 2026 for a chance to win one Bitcoin.

Regulators And Policy Shift

Reports have disclosed that the timing followed clearer guidance from federal regulators in 2025. Executives pointed to an Office of the Comptroller of the Currency action in spring 2025 that made it more straightforward for banks with national charters to provide crypto and blockchain services. That regulatory change helped make this step possible for SoFi.

According to reports, SoFi highlights a survey finding that about 60% of its crypto-owning members WOULD prefer to keep assets with a licensed bank rather than a crypto-native exchange. For many customers, the pitch is trust and easier money movement — plain reasons that can move people to act.

According to Noto, SoFi is not stopping at simple trading. The bank, he said, has outlined plans for a US-dollar stablecoin, crypto-enabled remittances that use blockchain rails, and ways to fold crypto into lending products.

The company also noted it raised its full-year profit forecast after strong third-quarter results, giving it room to push into new services.

Analysts said that banks and fintechs will watch closely. Some may try to copy the one-app approach, while crypto exchanges may point to features and fees that still favor them.

Adoption won’t be automatic. Crypto is volatile, and the assets customers buy are not FDIC insured. SoFi makes that clear in its materials.

Featured image from SoFi, chart from TradingView