In 2025, institutional investors' interest and investment in cryptocurrencies reached unprecedented heights. This wave is reflected not only in the direct allocation to mainstream crypto assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum but also extends to strategic investments in crypto asset management companies and blockchain infrastructure. From significant increases in holdings by Nasdaq-listed companies to crypto asset management firms going public via SPACs, and the continuous purchases by Japanese fashion brands, institutional funds are accelerating their entry into the crypto market with diversified strategies, indicating the increasingly solidified position of cryptocurrencies in the global financial system.
Institutional investors' direct allocation to cryptocurrencies, particularly to the largest market cap assets Bitcoin and Ethereum, shows strong growth momentum.
BlackRock's astonishing holdings: On July 8, Cointelegraph reported that BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), with a scale of approximately $75 billion, holds over 700,000 BTC, valued at about $75.5 billion. Apollo co-founder Thomas Fahrer pointed out that IBIT holds 700,307 BTC, highlighting the enormous demand and scale for institutional allocation of Bitcoin through ETFs.
SharpLink Gaming's massive increase in Ethereum holdings: On July 9, Arkham disclosed that SharpLink Gaming has accumulated over $500 million worth of Ethereum. The total value of ETH held by the company is $536.2 million, with staking on two major platforms, Liquid Collective and Figment. Of this, $470 million worth of ETH is staked in the form of lsETH on Liquid Collective, while another 25,312 ETH (currently valued at about $66.19 million) has been sent to Figment validators for staking. This indicates that institutions not only see value in Ethereum but are also actively participating in staking yields within its ecosystem.
Public companies continue to increase their holdings of SOL and BTC:
Nasdaq-listed DeFi Development Corp. (DFDV) announced an increase of 47,272 SOL, valued at approximately $7.19 million.
Europe's first Bitcoin reserve company, The Blockchain Group, raised about 3 million euros ($3.52 million) to increase its BTC holdings.
Japanese fashion brand ANAP has again increased its holdings by 15.8 BTC, bringing its total holdings to approximately 200.49 BTC. Previously, ANAP planned to purchase and hold over 1,000 BTC by August 2025, demonstrating its long-term strategic layout.
These cases indicate that institutional investors are viewing Bitcoin and Ethereum as important components of their investment portfolios and are actively allocating through various means such as direct purchases, ETFs, and staking.
With the influx of institutional funds, professional crypto asset management companies are also entering a golden period of development, even beginning to raise large-scale financing through traditional financial markets.
ReserveOne Inc.'s SPAC listing plan: On July 8, digital asset management company ReserveOne Inc. announced a final business combination agreement with Nasdaq-listed SPAC M3-Brigade Acquisition V Corp. ReserveOne plans to hold and manage a basket of crypto assets, centered around Bitcoin, covering assets like Ethereum and Solana that have staking and lending yield potential, providing asset appreciation services for institutional investors.
Over $1 billion in financing: This transaction is expected to bring over $1 billion in financing to ReserveOne, including approximately $298 million in trust funds and $750 million in PIPE financing (which includes $500 million in common stock and warrants, and $250 million in convertible bonds).
A gathering of strategic investors: Strategic investors participating in this round of financing include well-known crypto institutions such as Blockchain.com, Galaxy Digital, Kraken, Pantera Capital, and ParaFi Capital. After the completion of this transaction, ReserveOne plans to list on Nasdaq, which will further enhance the visibility and influence of the crypto asset management industry in traditional financial markets.
The case of ReserveOne indicates that more professional crypto asset management companies will seek financing and listing through traditional capital markets in the future, providing institutional investors with more diversified crypto investment products and services.
Institutional investors entering the crypto market do not follow a single model but present diversified strategies:
Core asset allocation: Centered around Bitcoin and Ethereum, with long-term holdings through ETFs and direct purchases.
Staking and yields: Actively participating in staking on PoS chains like Ethereum to obtain passive income, as seen with SharpLink Gaming's massive ETH staking.
Ecosystem asset layout: Increasing holdings of other Layer 1 tokens like Solana, focusing on their ecosystem development and potential value.
Infrastructure investment: Investing in crypto asset management companies, mining enterprises, and other infrastructure providers to participate in industry development on a broader level.
Strategic increases: Fashion brands like ANAP incorporating Bitcoin as part of their balance sheets reflect corporate strategic considerations for hedging against inflation and optimizing asset allocation.
In 2025, institutional investors are accelerating their layout in the crypto market at an unprecedented speed and scale. From the massive holdings of BlackRock's ETF to SharpLink Gaming's deep involvement in Ethereum, to ReserveOne's SPAC listing, and the proactive actions of listed companies and traditional financial institutions worldwide, it is clear that cryptocurrencies are no longer a niche investment but have become an important component of global institutional asset allocation. This diversified investment strategy and the influx of substantial funds not only bring strong liquidity support to the crypto market but also indicate that the position of cryptocurrencies in the global financial system will increasingly solidify, driving the industry towards a more mature and regulated direction.
Related: Crypto traders "begin to salivate" as Bitcoin (BTC) approaches $110,000
Original article: “A New Wave of Institutional Investors Enters the Market: Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) Become Core Assets, Massive Funds Flow into Diversified Strategies”
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