In the past couple of days, I came across an interesting trend— a major US online broker (founded in 1977, one of the largest in the industry) announced integration with Circle's USDC, allowing users to top up their accounts with stablecoins around the clock, enabling truly 24/7 trading.

Honestly, this seems simple on the surface, but it reflects many underlying factors. Looking back at the timeline: by the end of 2021, this broker had already started venturing into crypto trading, followed by one ETF approval after another, and stablecoins gradually moved from the fringe to mainstream visibility. The current situation is that embracing digital assets is no longer a small move by some aggressive institutions but has become a mainstream choice within the traditional financial system.

Notably, their strategy involves partnering with technical providers like Zerohash rather than building from scratch. This lightweight, flexible mode reduces compliance risks and allows for rapid market entry, serving as a valuable reference for traditional financial institutions.

Ultimately, regulatory attitudes are changing, and market demand is evolving. Those institutions that understand and embrace regulation will be better positioned in this wave of integration. The increasing competitive threshold for online brokers may also signal an overall elevation of the industry standards. The fusion of traditional finance and crypto infrastructure is entering a new phase.