Short Description:
Institutional crypto adoption is accelerating despite market swings, driven by ETFs, tokenization, and next-gen infrastructure like Sui blockchain.
Read Time:
3 minutes, 40 seconds
Main Article:
Despite market fluctuations, institutional interest in cryptocurrency is surging, marking a significant structural shift in global finance. At Consensus Hong Kong 2026, Sui executives highlighted 2025 as a landmark year for institutional adoption, fueled by the success of spot bitcoin ETFs and the growth of digital asset treasury vehicles. Stephen Mackintosh, CIO of Sui Group Holdings, noted that post-regulatory clarity, demand has skyrocketed, particularly for tokenization and stablecoins. He pointed to record options volumes and the entry of giants like Citadel and Jane Street as evidence that the world’s largest financial institutions are now building serious on-chain infrastructure.
The conversation is evolving from competition to convergence between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). Evan Cheng, CEO of Mysten Labs, framed DeFi’s instant “T+0” settlement as a strictly better product than TradFi’s slower processes. He believes institutional crypto adoption will advance through tokenization, where traditional assets can be instantly collateralized and leveraged using DeFi protocols. This synergy allows institutions to layer sophisticated on-chain strategies atop conventional exposures, unlocking new utility and efficiency.
Central to this convergence is high-performing blockchain infrastructure. Mackintosh described Sui as a “differentiated proposition” built by former Meta engineers, offering the low latency and high throughput needed for emerging use cases like ‘agentic commerce’—the fusion of AI and on-chain transactions. This robust foundation is key for supporting the complex demands of institutional crypto adoption and enabling the next wave of innovation in digital asset treasury management and tokenized assets.
Short Summary:
Institutional crypto adoption is accelerating, driven by spot bitcoin ETFs, tokenization, and superior blockchain infrastructure like Sui. The future lies in the convergence of TradFi and DeFi, enabling instant settlement and new financial strategies. This structural shift, underscored by major institutional investment, points toward a more efficient, integrated financial system built on digital assets.



