A significant signal in the recent crypto market has been overlooked by many. At the end of December, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued new regulatory guidelines allowing nationwide banks to engage in "risk-free principal trading" related to cryptocurrencies.

This may sound highly technical, but what does it actually mean? Simply put, banks can now act as intermediaries, conducting buy and sell operations in the crypto market to earn spreads without holding the assets themselves and bearing the risk. This breakthrough is much bigger than it appears.

From a market perspective, once banks fully participate, several chain reactions will occur: First, liquidity will increase significantly. The capital backing the banking system far exceeds that of existing crypto exchanges. Once the gates open, trading depth for BTC, mainstream coins, and various tokens will be substantially enhanced. Second, institutional funds will officially enter the market. This is no longer sporadic participation by some funds or tech companies, but a systematic involvement of the entire banking system.

The deeper significance lies in a shift in regulatory stance—from "watchful and cautious" to "embracing and integrating." Cryptocurrencies are gradually being incorporated into the traditional financial system, no longer on the fringe. This transformation will have a lasting impact on market psychology.

Of course, these policy signals usually take some time to fully translate into market momentum. But history shows that major market moves often begin with these seemingly dull regulatory documents. Those holding mainstream assets like BTC and ZEC have reason to stay attentive, and even consider their current positions. For traders still on the sidelines, understanding these macro backgrounds is equally important—it influences not just short-term prices but the entire market structure and capital flow.