Hype fades, substance remains: Why Bank of America, Commerzbank, and Nakiki are now winners

Bank of America: The secret patent king

When one thinks of crypto, one rarely thinks of Bank of America. That is a mistake. Although the second-largest financial institution in the US appears conservative on the outside and regularly warns customers about the volatility of Bitcoin, things look very different behind the scenes. The bank has recognized that blockchain can massively reduce processing costs in global payments. A look at its patents reveals its strategy. With hundreds of patents in the field of blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT), Bank of America is one of the most innovative financial institutions in the world. While start-ups often fail to scale, the North Carolina-based financial institution is building the infrastructure for the digital dollar and tokenized assets.

The figures for the third quarter of 2025 underscore the giant's strength: net profit was a solid USD 8.5 billion. The Global Transaction Services business, in particular, is benefiting from digitalization. For investors, the bank is therefore the safest bet on blockchain: if crypto fails, it remains a highly profitable bank. If the technology prevails, the bankers hold the patents.

Commerzbank: "Made in Germany" as a seal of quality

The fusion of the old and new financial worlds is even more concrete at Commerzbank. The Frankfurt-based financial institution has achieved something that many fintechs have failed to do: it was the first German universal bank to receive the official crypto custody license from BaFin. In a world where exchanges like FTX disappear overnight, this license is valuable. It shows institutional clients that digital assets at Commerzbank are now as secure as a savings account. This focus on corporate banking is paying off: Commerzbank offers seamless B2B solutions for crypto assets without customers having to bear regulatory risks themselves.

Operationally, Coba is on track despite weaker figures in the third quarter of 2025. The strategy of positioning itself as the trusted partner for the tokenization of German companies could prove to be the decisive competitive advantage over its rivals. The stock is no longer a restructuring case, but a quality play in the European banking sector. After a strong stock market year in 2025, the upward trend at Commerzbank could continue in 2026.

Nakiki: Bitcoin treasurer as a speedboat

While Bank of America and Commerzbank provide the infrastructure, Nakiki is fully committed to Bitcoin. The Company was originally an investment company for legal claims, but in 2025, it completed its transition to a Bitcoin treasury company. The approach is easy to explain. Nakiki raises capital and invests it in Bitcoin. Shareholders indirectly participate in these holdings and benefit from rising prices. While comparable business models issue new shares for financing, Nakiki prefers to focus on bonds. This prevents dilution for shareholders and also offers bond investors new options.

Nakiki is currently an absolute micro-cap on the stock market and has a market capitalization of only around EUR 4 million. Recently, the Bitcoin treasurer, who wants to buy the cryptocurrency tactically and smartly, suffered from the sell-off of Bitcoin. Nakiki's risk/reward profile is, of course, completely different from that of Bank of America or Commerzbank. However, Nakiki should benefit from its agility and the experience of CEO Andreas Wegerich, who is considered a bond expert in the German small-cap scene and has already accompanied transactions with a total value of more than EUR 1 billion. If Bitcoin rises again and the Nakiki team shows a lucky hand in buying the cryptocurrency, the stock is also likely to pick up speed again. Added to this is the speculation surrounding possible investments that the Company has initiated in recent months.

Crypto: Market focuses on substance – Nakiki perfectly positioned

The days when investors bet on meme coins or were lured into risky investments by Donald Trump's tweets are over. While Bitcoin has settled down, forward-thinking investors are looking to crypto companies with substance. Classic banks such as Bank of America and Germany's Commerzbank are at the forefront of this trend. Smaller, agile companies such as Nakiki also have good opportunities for promising business in specific niches. Bitcoin treasurer Nakiki offers attractive opportunities due to its focus on bond financing and planned investments in small companies in the crypto sector. Its single-digit market capitalization opens up the option of early entry for risk-aware investors.