Fifth Third Bancorp, a financial institution with roots tracing back to 1858, has been quietly working within the cryptocurrency sector for five years. However, delayed investments only recently took place due to uncertainties surrounding regulations. Ben Hoffman, the bank’s Chief Strategy Officer, highlights this favorable moment for significant expansion. Fifth Third Bank has cultivated a modest client base in the crypto space, leveraging its traditional deposit accounts and payment processing capabilities to facilitate tasks like payroll management and income disbursement for these clients. The company’s history is rich: it originated as the Bank of the Ohio Valley in Cincinnati, Ohio before merging with Third National Bank in 1871. Later, a merger with Fifth National Bank led to its current identity as Fifth Third Bank.