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Tag: institutional demand

Crypto M&A Hits Record $8.6B in 2025

Crypto Mergers and Acquisitions Reach New Heights

The year 2025 has been a landmark for the cryptocurrency industry, with mergers and acquisitions (M&A) reaching an unprecedented $8.6 billion. This figure represents a substantial leap from the $2.17 billion recorded in the previous year, signaling a robust wave of consolidation and investment activity within the digital asset space, as reported by Whalesbook and KuCoin.

Policy Tailwinds and Deal Surge

The surge in M&A activity is largely attributed to supportive regulatory developments from the Trump administration, which established a federal framework for stablecoins and tokenized assets. This favorable policy environment fueled 267 deals, an 18% increase, with major transactions including Deribit, Kraken’s acquisition of NinjaTrader, and Ripple’s significant investments throughout the year, as noted by Coindesk.

Institutional Demand on the Rise

One of the most notable trends in 2025 was the increasing demand for bitcoin among institutional investors. According to SSGA, the broader US BTC ETF market grew 45% to $103B AUM, increasing institutional share slightly to 24.5%. Moreover, 60% of institutional investors report they prefer to gain exposure to crypto through registered vehicles.

Expanding Use Cases for Digital Assets

Beyond bitcoin, the use cases for digital assets are expanding. Grayscale notes that as more platforms complete their due diligence, build out capital market assumptions, and incorporate crypto into model portfolios, the list of institutions adopting crypto ETPs in their portfolios is expected to grow significantly in 2026.

December 25, 2025
Crypto Markets Shift as Banks Embrace Digital Assets

Crypto Today: Banks Go On-Chain as Bitcoin Targets a December Rally

Crypto markets are shifting fast as tokenized funds scale, major banks embrace digital assets, and institutions predict a strong year-end recovery. According to WisdomTree, Bitcoin’s evolution from a fringe experiment into a macro-relevant asset class has been remarkable.

Tokenized Funds on the Rise

WisdomTree is expanding its suite of tokenized assets, with the launch of new funds that leverage their expertise in building intuitive funds designed to perform in different market conditions. As Will Peck, Head of Digital Assets at WisdomTree, noted, “EPXC is an exciting addition to our suite of tokenized funds that leverages our expertise in building intuitive funds that are designed to perform in different market conditions.”

Institutional Demand for Bitcoin on the Rise

According to SSGA, Bitcoin remains dominant in the digital asset space, often viewed as a standard against which other crypto assets are measured. Its pioneering role and substantial market capitalization make it a focal point for both new entrants and seasoned investors.

Regulatory Environment

The traditional banking industry has sought to slow down the surge of institutions seeking charters as trust banks that will serve digital assets customers. However, as Jonathan Gould, the chief of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, said, such a hesitancy would “risk reversing innovations.”

Market Outlook

Despite the current market volatility, institutions predict a strong year-end recovery. As JPMorgan noted, strategy is key to Bitcoin’s next move. The IMF also warned that stablecoins may weaken central bank control.

December 9, 2025