In 2025, the world of cryptocurrencies has entered a new era where innovation and the market are not the only driving forces. Global regulatory trends have also pointed in that direction over the past year.
The era of government leadership is over. They ignored the Bitcoin (BTC) ecosystem. We are also moving away from the first few years of digital currency, when it was viewed by most regulators as something peripheral to the criminal world.
At the time, many policymakers were satisfied with central banks issuing statements. In it, they warned of the “risks of investing in virtual currencies”, They warned about fraud and money laundering.
This position, oscillating between indifference and rejection, fueled anxiety for more than a decade after Bitcoin’s creation. What I was afraid of was It will be completely banned. A threat that is being forgotten in the rhythm of a kind of “political whiplash”.
A leap forward in Bitcoin regulation
As the year-end report from blockchain intelligence company TRM Labs points out, the crypto ecosystem and digital assets in general will end 2025 with a glorious entry into global finance. impulse gained power With Donald Trump’s arrival in the White House.
2025 was a year where regulatory clarity and market momentum matched. As the United States under the Trump administration reshapes the tone of global politics, we have entered a period of accelerating the introduction of cryptocurrency regulation.
TRM Institute
The relationship between regulators and Bitcoin has been the subject of research by several academics. One of the most prominent is Jan Lansky of the University of Finance and Management in Prague, Czech Republic.
In 2018, teachers took a closer look at the level of regulation of cryptocurrencies around the world. For that date, I created a scale ranging from 0 to 5, as shown in the following table.
| Bitcoin regulation level | explanation |
| 0 | Governments are not paying attention to digital assets. |
| 1 | Some public institutions have issued statements acknowledging the existence of cryptocurrencies. However, no approach is presented to deal with them. |
| 2 | Some organizations have issued statements proposing approaches to handling crypto assets. |
| 3 | There are bodies that have issued guidance and rules to regulate digital assets. |
| 4 | There may be pre-defined conditions that, if met, may result in regulation being applied. Authorized to provide products and services related to crypto assets. |
| 5 | Full or partial bans or full adoption and use of crypto assets will be encouraged. |
Expanding regulatory environment
At the time Lansky conducted his research, Bitcoin regulation in most countries hovered between levels 0 and 3. 50% or more There was no focus on regulation. Additionally, 14% of jurisdictions were considering banning its use.
Things started to change heading into 2022 with increased institutional adoption. By 2025, the majority of jurisdictions will be between levels 4 and 5. Promote the use of Bitcoinand it has not been banned as feared.
Its position on the highest scale will be revealed in the following study. TRM Institute The company assessed progress in 30 jurisdictions where more than 70% of the world’s exposure to crypto assets is concentrated.
The study concludes that almost 80% of the jurisdictions analyzed created new regulatory frameworks this year. They are all incorporating cryptocurrencies into their financial systems.
Analysts cite efforts by major countries primarily focused on stablecoins, tokenized assets, and exchange operations.
This progress has been made by the United States, the European Union (the so-called MiCA law), and in Asian countries (emphasis on United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Japan). In Latin America, the following proposals are attracting attention: Brazil and El Salvador.
The US takes the lead in regulation
The United States’ influence in global politics and economics is the driving force behind the 2025 regulation push. After President Trump’s support for ecosystems, a new vision of politicians and officials takes shape.
Presidential influence has materialized in the United States through legislative approval (led by GENIUS) and new positions at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). and regulations that allow banks to provide services using BTC. All of this, coupled with government guidelines and initiatives, Create a Bitcoin Vault.
The pattern the US has set with these actions will lead Bitcoin in the following direction: Central location for state economic policy. And there are some indicators to prove it.
One of the most important turning points in this regulatory dynamic is the relationship between cryptocurrencies and the financial system. link didn’t exist before. The yellow line drawn by regulators told banks they should not cross it.
The current situation is different. More and more banks are considering offering services using Bitcoin, and by 2025 that barrier will finally disappear. Banking authorities will lift restrictions on handling virtual currencies for these entities.
Change Bitcoin Bank Binding
An important signal is the change in the position of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC). In its 2025 annual report, it removed cryptocurrencies from the list of vulnerabilities that could weaken the financial system.
The agency, which brings together the nation’s top financial regulators, has long been explaining crypto assets. as a source of risk. The 2024 report still lists them as “potential hazards.” It has highlighted these as “growth areas” by 2025.
| year | FSOC’s stance on Bitcoin |
| 2022 | This is a clear risk to financial stability and a “priority area for monitoring”. |
| 2023 | “Vulnerability to financial stability” due to price fluctuations. |
| 2024 | The market is growing and potential systemic risks need to be monitored. |
| 2025 | It’s no longer a “vulnerability”. There are no warnings, concerns, or explicit recommendations. Warning regarding virtual currencies has been rescinded. |
A similar thing is happening with the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS). The international body, which sets standards for banking regulation around the world, announced an “accelerated review” of prudential standards in November last year. For bank exposure to cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin and stablecoins have been a threat for years, but new rules are expected to be announced in 2026 Becoming more flexible and open to the sector.
A new historical cycle begins
For most experts, all these changes are more than just updates, they are a recognition of the maturation of the ecosystem. A new panorama thus appears. Inserting Bitcoin into national policies at the global level.
“In 2025, the US will abolish its restrictive approach to cryptocurrencies, opening a new historical cycle with the potential for global integration,” Barclays analysts observed.
Researchers predict a “regulatory reality” in 2026. This trend will be further strengthened by law enforcement and “governments that follow America’s lead.” Next year will also be marked by a battle between nations to attract crypto investment.
On a global scale, competition between jurisdictions will revolve around providing sophisticated legal frameworks that can integrate innovation, financial stability, and effective governance (…) Bitcoin regulation will cease to be reactive and will begin to occupy the center of politics in the world’s major economies.
TRM Institute
