74% of Big Money Bets Crypto Will Moon in 2026 – Or Will It?

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So, apparently, a bunch of suits at Coinbase and EY-Parthenon decided to ask 351 of their institutional chums what they think about crypto in 2026. The result? A staggering 74% believe crypto prices will soar, and 73% are planning to throw more money into the digital abyss. Stablecoins and tokenisation, they say, are the next big thing. Hooray for the future of money, or something.

  • In a January 2026 survey, 351 institutions revealed that 74% are convinced crypto prices will rise, and 73% are ready to up their stakes. Because, you know, why not?
  • These folks now prefer ETPs and other regulated toys for their crypto exposure. Meanwhile, 83% are already playing with stablecoins or plan to, all thanks to the GENIUS Act. Genius, indeed.
  • Sixty-three percent are eyeing tokenised assets, and 61% think tokenisation will shake up the market. All this while half of them are still reeling from recent volatility and tightening their risk management. Because, apparently, they’ve learned nothing from the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: “Don’t Panic.”

Despite Bitcoin taking a nosedive to $72,300 and the market having a collective meltdown over Middle East conflicts and inflation data, these institutional types are oddly optimistic. A Coinbase and EY-Parthenon report, based on a survey of 351 bigwigs, claims 74% expect crypto prices to rise, and 73% are ready to double down on their digital dreams. Because, clearly, the universe owes them a favor.

This newfound institutional enthusiasm is all about regulated products now. Two-thirds of these decision-makers at asset managers, hedge funds, and other fancy places prefer exchange-traded products (ETPs) and regulated instruments. It’s like they’ve finally realized that crypto isn’t just a Wild West shootout. Who knew compliance could be cool?

Regulatory Clarity: The Holy Grail of Crypto

When asked what’s holding them back, over three-quarters pointed to market structure regulation as the big bad wolf. This is the same song they sang last year, when 52% called regulatory uncertainty their top concern and 68% begged for clarity. Because, let’s face it, nothing says “institutional investor” like a good old-fashioned rulebook.

Enter the GENIUS Act, signed into law by President Trump in July 2025. This masterpiece introduced the first federal framework for stablecoins, complete with 1:1 reserve mandates and licensing requirements. The OCC even chimed in with proposed regulations in March 2026. Institutions are watching this like a hawk: 83% are either using stablecoins or planning to, and the same percentage thinks the GENIUS Act will make stablecoins the next big thing. Genius, right?

Tokenisation is also all the rage. Sixty-three percent are interested, and 61% believe it’ll reshape market structure. This aligns with the boom in real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation on DeFi platforms, where Morpho saw RWA deposits skyrocket to $400 million in 2025. Because who needs traditional assets when you can tokenize everything?

Amid all this bullishness, recent volatility has left its mark. Nearly half of respondents are now more focused on risk management, liquidity, and position control. So, they’re not bailing-just recalibrating. Because, as we all know, the best way to handle a crisis is to pretend you’re in control.

The contrast between Wednesday’s market plunge and this survey’s rosy outlook sums up the institutional crypto dilemma in 2026: short-term chaos versus long-term optimism. It’s like trying to navigate a spaceship with a faulty hyperdrive-exciting, but probably a bad idea.

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2026-03-18 17:31