Strategy chairman Michael Saylor says U.S. banks should hold Bitcoin for customers and offer loans secured by the cryptocurrency under clear rules. He also sees an AI-agent-driven digital economy potentially expanding the digital asset industry to $100 trillion, though he gave no timeline. Whether banks can grow these services will depend in part on how regulators classify crypto assets and set capital requirements.
Saylor calls for Bitcoin custody and lending rules
Saylor outlined his policy proposals this week after attending the Freedom Tech DC summit, hosted by the Bitcoin Policy Institute. He wants banks to provide Bitcoin custody for customers and let them borrow against their holdings.
He cited international capital rules as one obstacle to offering these services. The Basel framework sets capital standards for bank assets and assigns a 1,250% risk weight to the highest-risk category of crypto assets. Saylor pointed to that figure while urging regulators to distinguish among three activities: custodying Bitcoin for customers, lending against Bitcoin collateral, and investing banks’ own funds in the asset.
The distinction affects the capital costs and risks banks face when they enter crypto-related businesses. If customer custody receives the same or similar treatment as a bank’s own investment, institutions could have to allocate more capital to activities with different risk profiles. Saylor called for clearer, workable rules, but the regulatory approach remains unsettled.
Bank adoption remains uneven
Saylor sees banks’ participation as a potential source of new capital for the Bitcoin market. In his view, competition among banks to serve Bitcoin holders could draw funds into an asset with limited supply.
Strategy has launched the Bitcoin Banking Adoption Index to track the uptake of Bitcoin-related services at major financial institutions. The index put adoption among large banks at 32% as of July. The figure tracks adoption of relevant services; it does not mean that every bank offers Bitcoin custody or loans.
Senior executives at major banks have expressed differing views on Bitcoin. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has publicly called it a “pet rock,” while Strategy CEO Phong Le has said Dimon is privately supportive of Bitcoin. The contrasting statements highlight the gap between public positions and the development of related banking services.
Saylor said the digital asset and digital intelligence era needs a “digital bill of rights,” rather than restrictive legislation. His proposal puts the focus on how regulation should define the boundaries for banks’ involvement in digital asset services.
$100 trillion vision tied to AI agents
Saylor linked his $100 trillion industry projection to the growth of AI agents: software that can carry out tasks on someone’s behalf. He expects these tools to gather information, negotiate and make purchases for users.
In his vision, that kind of economic activity requires money that can operate around the clock and move at software speed. The existing financial system still relies heavily on manual identity checks and traditional business hours. Saylor argued that Bitcoin and other digital assets could fit this transaction environment, but offered no timeframe or detailed calculation for the $100 trillion estimate.
Senate vote puts regulatory treatment in focus
The policy push comes after a legislative setback. On September 15, the U.S. Senate vote ended 49–50. Saylor’s proposals have since focused attention on banking rules, particularly the treatment of crypto assets under the Basel capital framework.
For now, any expansion of Bitcoin custody and collateralized lending by banks will depend on regulatory requirements and each institution’s business decisions. Saylor’s $100 trillion figure is a long-term estimate with no stated timeline; the index’s 32% adoption rate offers a separate snapshot of major banks’ current engagement.