Looking back at crypto banks' Q3 performance

Morgan Stanley analyst Ken Zerbe creates a list of crypto-related banks, including Signature Bank (NASDAQ:SBNY), New York Community Bank (NYSE:NYCB) and Silvergate (NYSE:SI), with some focused on providing real-time payments to crypto participants, while others plan to use the blockchain ecosystem to help reduce expenses. Starting off with Signature Bank (SBNY), the largest bank on the list by deposits and market cap, operates Signet, a blockchain-based digital payments platform that enables real-time 24/7 payments between customers. Digital deposits at the bank climbed by 229% year-to-date to approximately $23B, as of the second quarter, Zerbe writes in a note to clients. The bank also launched its first bitcoin (BTC-USD)-backed loan in Q3, offering customers loans collateralized by their BTC holdings. Recall SBNY's Q3 deposits were boosted by "notable contributions from our Digital Asset Banking Team." In February, JPMorgan Chase also added SBNY to its Focus List as the bank is in