Top Three Cryptocurrency News Stories You Should Know

U.Today presents the top three news stories over the past day that highlight significant movements in the cryptocurrency market. From ETF delays to bank endorsements and new crypto listings, these updates are shaping the landscape of digital currencies.

XRP ETF from $1.4 Trillion Giant Faces SEC Delay

In a notable development, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has postponed its decision on Franklin Templeton’s spot XRP ETF filing. Initially set to be announced on May 3, the deadline was later pushed to June 17, and has now been further extended into late July. The SEC is actively seeking public comments before making a final determination.

This delay should not be interpreted as a negative signal but rather reflects the SEC’s commitment to thorough due diligence. Franklin Templeton, one of the largest asset management firms in the world with assets totaling $1.4 trillion, submitted its S-1 form back in early March, making it the biggest player to file for a spot XRP ETF. Competing filings from other industry giants like Bitwise and 21Shares have also been submitted, indicating strong interest in the market.

Market analysts remain optimistic, anticipating that the SEC may approve several spot-based altcoin ETFs by late 2025. Recent bets on Polymarket show a positive outlook for XRP ETF approval odds, hinting at a potential shift in regulatory sentiment toward cryptocurrencies.

Major Spanish Bank Endorses Bitcoin

In a groundbreaking move for the European banking landscape, BBVA, one of Spain’s leading banks, has begun advising its wealthy clients to invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum. As reported by Reuters, clients are recommended to allocate between 3% to 7% of their investment portfolios into these cryptocurrencies, depending on their risk tolerance.

Philippe Meyer, head of digital and blockchain solutions at BBVA Switzerland, revealed that the bank started offering advice on Bitcoin investments back in September of the previous year. This proactive stance is unprecedented for a major financial institution, as it reflects a significant shift from merely tolerating cryptocurrencies to actively promoting them as investment opportunities.

BBVA manages approximately $700 billion in assets and serves around 80 million customers globally. This approach could potentially reshape attitudes toward cryptocurrencies within traditional financial sectors, especially considering that around 95% of European banks have yet to engage extensively with digital currencies.

Coinbase Unveils New Listing for Ethereum-Based Crypto Assets

Coinbase, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has announced the listing of a new Ethereum-based token called Spark (SPK). According to a recent update on their X account, SPK is now available on both the Coinbase platform and its iOS and Android apps, marked with the "Experimental" label.

In addition to this new listing, Coinbase also plans to support Spark perpetual futures on its International Exchange and Coinbase Advanced. The SPK-PERP markets officially opened on June 19, 2025. This is not the only Ethereum-based token making waves on Coinbase; the exchange has recently added several others, including PancakeSwap (CAKE), Lagrange (LA), and Ethena (ENA). Notably, Ethena (ENA) is also accessible on Coinbase, allowing users a plethora of options for buying, selling, converting, sending, receiving, or storing the token.

These developments in the cryptocurrency sector highlight how traditional finance is increasingly acknowledging the role of digital assets. As banks and exchanges expand their cryptocurrency offerings, the market is set for more dynamic changes in the near future.