Institutional Investors Show Growing Interest In Cryptocurrency

According to Cointelegraph, a recent survey by Swiss crypto bank Sygnum reveals a growing interest in cryptocurrency among institutional investors. The annual Future Finance survey, released on November 14, indicates a positive shift in market sentiment towards digital assets. The survey, which gathered responses from 400 institutional investors across 27 countries, found that 57% of respondents plan to increase their crypto allocations. Of these, 31% expect to do so within the next quarter, while 32% plan to increase their investments within six months. This trend reflects a generally high-risk appetite among institutional investors, with only 5% planning to decrease their crypto holdings and 2% remaining undecided. Martin Burgherr, Sygnum Bank’s chief clients officer, attributes this positive sentiment to clearer global regulations, particularly the approval and launch of US Bitcoin Spot ETFs. These developments are seen as potential catalysts for accelerating institutional adoption of digital assets. Despite the positive outlook, 44% of institutions planning to increase their crypto exposure prefer single-token investments, while 40% opt for actively managed strategies. Meanwhile, 36% of institutions holding their current positions may be waiting for further market confirmation or optimal entry timing before increasing their allocations. Historically, unclear regulations and restrictive investment mandates have been significant barriers for traditional investors considering digital assets. However, as pro-crypto regulations emerge, Sygnum notes that high market volatility, security, and custody concerns remain primary obstacles for institutions. Most institutional investors (81%) believe that better information on crypto will encourage them to invest more, indicating a shift from regulatory concerns to market-specific risks, strategic planning, and technology exploration. Investment preferences among institutional investors remain high for scalable layer-1 solutions, heavily influenced by Bitcoin (BTC), Solana (SOL), and stablecoins. Additionally, there is a growing interest in Web3 infrastructure, driven by the growth of Decentralised Physical Infrastructure (DePIN) and artificial intelligence. However, interest in decentralized finance has waned due to frequent high-volume hacks, which have cumulatively drained approximately $2.1 billion from the ecosystem. Compared to 2023, institutional investors' interest has shifted from real estate to equity, corporate bonds, and mutual funds.