The Crypto.com roadmap revealed plans to introduce a stablecoin and file for a Cronos exchange-traded fund (ETF) in 2025. The roadmap highlighted that Crypto.com is set to launch in the third quarter and that the exchange will submit its native token’s ETF filing by the last quarter of this year. The exchange still did not share any other details concerning the expected developments.
The roadmap also outlined Crypto.com’s plans for expansion across stocks, banking, and cards. Crypto.com plans to expand globally, introduce rewards on BTC, create a global fiat on and off-ramp, institutional custody, AI-powered trading, and margined derivatives. The exchange will also introduce stocks and ETF trading, FX, index, and stock derivatives.
Crypto.com’s expansion into banking will introduce personal multi-currency accounts, yield on cash, faster and cheaper global transfers, business accounts, and international banking accounts. The exchange will also introduce Crypto.com credit cards, a 10% travel rebate, and the Crypto.com prime card.
A Crypto.com spokesperson reportedly commented on the expected developments, saying they would be part of the exchange’s mission to diversify its product offerings. The spokesperson also allegedly mentioned that the new products would increase Crypto.com’s user experience. The exchange has rolled out five out of six products outlined in the first quarter of this year.
Crypto.com receives MiCA license
The exchange recently received a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license issued by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). The exchange explained the license’s significance to its mission of global expansion and offering regulated services within the European Union.
“Securing a MiCA licence has been a major priority for us in recent years, and receiving this approval further cements our continued commitment to being the most compliant and regulated crypto platform globally.”
The license will also be crucial to the exchange launching its stablecoin, especially after the MiCA framework, which implements stricter demands for stablecoin issuers, was implemented. Tether has been one of the companies most affected by the framework, with exchanges like Coinbase forced to delist the token.
Analysts predict multiple ETF approvals in 2025
We expect a wave of cryptocurrency ETFs next year, albeit not all at once. First out is likely the btc + eth combo ETFs, then prob Litecoin (bc its fork of btc = commodity), then HBAR (bc not labeled security) and then XRP/Solana (which have been labeled securities in pending… pic.twitter.com/29vMdciZxE
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) December 17, 2024
A Bloomberg report from December 2024 mentioned analysts’ predictions that 2025 will have multiple crypto ETF filings and approvals. Senior Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas predicted an influx of crypto ETFs despite the approvals varying in time. The analyst suggested that more BTC and ETH ETFs, including from Bitwise, Franklin Templeton, and Hashdex, might be the first to be approved.
Balchunas also mentioned the rejected Solana ETF filings under the former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission leadership. The analyst predicted that the filed Solana and XRP ETFs would have a better chance for approval under a new U.S. SEC administration. Balchunas also pointed out some of the hurdles to be expected by the previous standing of the commission on SOL and XRP as securities.
Another analyst, James Seyffart, also highlighted the shortcomings of the current U.S. SEC categorization of some tokens as securities. Seyffart and Balchunas both believed that the XRP and SOL ETF approvals would depend on the commission clarifying the tokens’ status.
The analysts also predicted that Litecoin and HBAR ETFs would have a higher chance of approval before XRP and SOL. The report further highlighted that while Canary Capital was the only Litecoin and HBAR ETF filer, more institutions would submit more applications in the future.
U.S. President Donald Trump has notably appointed a new head of the commission after former U.S. SEC chair Gary Gensler’s resignation. The new commission’s acting chair, Mark T. Uyeda, has been tasked with providing regulatory clarity for digital assets. Uyeda recently created a crypto task force led by Commissioner Hester Pierce aimed at creating a clear and comprehensive regulatory framework for digital asset finance.
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