Curious about crypto but not sure where to start? Between the jargon, mixed opinions, and nonstop headlines, it can feel disconnected from your financial life. That hesitation is understandable.

Until recently, most crypto platforms operated outside the rules that apply to banks, which made them feel unfamiliar or risky to rely on. But that’s changing. As crypto becomes part of mainstream finance, nationally chartered banks like SoFi are now offering it.

Banks are closely regulated and apply certain principles to their financial products, including crypto: governance, oversight, and accountability. That structure can make digital assets more easily accessible and help it fit more naturally into your broader financial plan.

What Makes Crypto at a Bank Different

When a nationally chartered (or federally regulated) bank offers access to buy, sell, and hold crypto, it must follow the same standards that govern its other financial products, with clear guidelines designed to help protect customers and their assets. These include AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and KYC (Know Your Customer) rules, which are both designed to help prevent fraud and verify identity. By confirming details like your name, address, and ID, for example, the bank can verify it’s really you.

Alongside these protections, banks are also subject to regular audits, internal controls, and ongoing regulatory reviews. These safeguards help prevent fraud and protect your account, though no system can eliminate every risk, such as market volatility or the loss of money.

Crypto remains risky, and not insured by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) or SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation). But buying it through a bank means doing so under a layer of clear standards for security and transparency that many decentralized or unregulated crypto exchanges may lack.

Keeping Your Crypto Safe

Once you own crypto, you’ll need to decide how to store and access it. You’ll use a crypto wallet – like a digital keychain that stores your private keys, which are the passwords that let you send, receive, and manage crypto. Keeping them secure is essential.

There are two ways to do that: manage your own keys or have a custodian, like a bank, manage them for you. If you buy and hold crypto through a federally regulated bank like SoFi, your assets are kept in a custodial wallet. That means SoFi manages wallet access on your behalf, using institutional-grade security and compliance protocols. With a non-custodial wallet, you’re fully in control – and fully responsible. If you lose access, your crypto cannot be recovered.

A custodial setup offers an easier way to get started, with the added benefit of customer support if you need it. A non-custodial wallet may be the better fit for those who prefer greater control. Just be ready for the responsibility that comes with it. (Learn more about digital wallets and private keys.)

Everything in One App

Managing another app or password can be a hassle. But when you access crypto through the same app as your checking, savings, and investment accounts, managing your money is more straightforward. And there are other benefits when you buy, sell, and hold crypto through a banking app like SoFi’s:

•  Instant funding: Move money from checking or savings to crypto instantly.

•  Unified view: See all your banking, investing, and crypto balances all in one place.

•  Simpler planning: Understand how crypto fits into your goals without juggling multiple apps.

•  Built-in learning: Access educational resources to build your knowledge.

These features make crypto easier to explore, manage, and learn about crypto – all in the same trusted environment you already use for your money.

Why Banks Are Offering Crypto

Banks have been watching the growth of crypto for years. Until recently, unclear rules kept them on the sidelines. Now that regulations have caught up with consumer demand, banks can offer crypto in a structured way that adds an extra layer of consumer protection. And SoFi is the first nationally-chartered bank that lets you buy, sell, and hold crypto.

Your Next Steps

If you’re curious, starting through your bank can be an easy and secure way to explore. SoFi lets you bank, borrow, invest, and own crypto, all in one place – with the structure, transparency, and accountability of a national bank, so you may take your first step with confidence.

Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

SoFi isn't recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.

Finance is changing. Digital assets are moving into the mainstream, reshaping how we think about money, and bringing their features – speed, lower costs, and greater independence – to anyone with an internet connection.

Digital assets can operate outside traditional systems, giving users more direct control over their money – and by extension, their overall financial portfolio.

What Sets Crypto Apart

To think about how digital assets may fit with your broader financial goals, let’s consider what sets them apart.

•  Cryptocurrency exists entirely online and generally operates independently of a central bank or government. This can theoretically insulate it from monetary policy, interest rate changes, and inflation that affect the value of traditional currencies like the U.S. dollar.

•  The crypto market is highly speculative, largely unregulated and extremely volatile. Crypto prices are driven mainly by supply, demand, and investor sentiment, while stock prices tend to reflect company earnings, the economy, and business fundamentals. Digital assets also trade 24/7, while the New York Stock Exchange is open only six and a half hours on weekdays.

•  Crypto prices have historically shown relatively low correlation with traditional financial markets such as stocks (meaning they don’t tend to move in lockstep with the stock market), though the link has strengthened as crypto has moved further into the mainstream.

How to Think About Your Finances, Crypto and Stablecoin

Diversification is already a key investing principle: In short, it means avoiding putting all your eggs in one basket. The same idea applies when deciding whether crypto or stablecoins belong in your financial life. Rather than thinking of crypto as “all or nothing,” the real question is how much, if any, exposure makes sense for your goals and risk tolerance.

Your financial portfolio includes everything you own: Your checking and savings accounts, cash, credit cards, retirement savings, and investment accounts as well as physical assets like your car and home. If you add crypto, it becomes one more bucket.

But crypto comes with specific risks and considerations: Regulations are still evolving, much of the market remains unregulated, and price swings can be extreme. In October 2025, for example, Bitcoin, the most prominent digital currency, fell about 7% in a single day as markets reacted to news about tariffs and a government shutdown. (The S&P 500 declined far less – 2.7%.) The sharp drop triggered forced liquidations of leveraged trades, wiping out $20 billion in value.

For newcomers, this level of volatility means one thing: Start by deciding how much risk you’re willing to take, and limit your initial allocation to an amount that won’t derail your broader financial plan. Crypto may be more suitable for those who can afford to lose the allocated money in its entirety.

The high degree of volatility has also given rise to stablecoins – digital currencies pegged to traditional currencies like the U.S. dollar. Their potential for stability makes them useful for digital payments, cross-border transfers, and potential protection against local currency inflation or banking limits. For international payments and remittances, stablecoins may reduce costs and accelerate transfers. And for people in high-inflation economies, a stablecoin linked to a stronger currency may offer an alternative to local banking systems.

For U.S.-based consumers, the actionable takeaway is simpler: Stablecoins can provide a less volatile way to explore digital assets or to move money more efficiently. But they’re still part of the broader crypto ecosystem and should fit into your strategy – not replace it.

Getting Started

Getting started with digital assets can feel overwhelming, but a few rules of thumb can help:

•  Start small – you can always add to your allocation over time or set up regular purchases.

•  Research each asset carefully, considering reputation, real-world use cases, market performance, and supply.

•  Know your risk tolerance – market volatility can be a challenge for even the most seasoned investor.

•  Use a regulated, reputable platform to buy and sell.

•  And always remember, the value of digital assets is not guaranteed, and they are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, meaning your crypto is not protected from losses.

SoFi is the first nationally chartered consumer bank where members can bank, borrow, invest — as well as buy, sell, and hold crypto – all in one place and on a platform they trust.

Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

SoFi isn’t recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.