Institutional crypto adoption is entering a new phase – one that is defined a lot less by passive exposure and more by direct participation in on-chain market formation, tokenized assets, and real-time settlement infrastructure.
In the following interview with the new Managing Director of the Crypto.com Exchange, Iskandar Vanblarcum, we discuss the forces that drive that shift, the barriers still holding institutions back, and why real-world assets (RWAs), collateral utility, and regulated prediction markets could reshape the global financial landscape as we know it.
You’ve said the next era of finance will be “rebuilt on-chain.” From your conversations with institutional clients, what has changed most in their attitude toward digital assets over the past 12–18 months?
This is a pivotal moment for institutional involvement in the digital assets space. What’s changed in the last 12- 18 months is the steady maturation of our industry, alongside the development of specific and focused regulation governing the sector. Attitudes are also changing as more institutions recognize the value of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies, and how their portfolios and businesses can benefit from reduced friction, faster settlement, 24/7 access, deep liquidity, and ultra-low-latency infrastructure, just to name a few.
Institutional adoption of crypto has often been framed around Bitcoin exposure, ETFs, or custody. Are we now entering a phase where institutions are looking more seriously at on-chain market infrastructure itself, rather than just crypto as an asset class?
Yes, this is an interesting shift that we’re seeing. We are witnessing a deep, structural integration where institutions are moving away from simply gaining passive price exposure to actively utilizing decentralized infrastructure. This is evident as institutions integrate tokenized real-world assets, like BlackRock’s BUIDL, directly as active trading collateral. Firms are also adopting real-time blockchain settlement networks, such as Lynq, to optimize capital efficiency through “Yield-in-Transit” technology. Additionally, traditional banks like Nedbank are utilizing blockchain rails to create resilient, low-cost cross-border payment ecosystems. Ultimately, the distinction between traditional assets and digital infrastructure is disappearing as institutions leverage blockchain’s 24/7 programmability to rewire legacy markets.
What are the main barriers still preventing larger institutions from increasing their allocation or activity in digital assets: regulation, liquidity, counterparty risk, internal mandates, reputational concerns, or something else?
Institutions demand a high regulatory stand
小靓分析：
🦊 小靓解读
机构正从被动持有BTC转向主动参与链上市场构建，RWA和预测市场将成为下轮金融基础设施的核心。Crypto.com高管的表态印证了合规资本对“链上结算+代币化资产”的需求已进入落地阶段。
📊 市场影响
中短期利好RWA赛道（如ONDO、POLYX），可能带动合规交易所代币CRO的生态活跃度。但BTC主导地位可能因资金分流而阶段性承压，需关注机构是否真能推动链上流动性爆发。
💡 操作建议
可关注RWA相关代币的逢低布局机会，但避免追高短期炒作。建议将总仓位控制在15%以内，优先配置已与合规交易所合作的代币项目，同时设置5%止损防范宏观流动性收紧风险。
风险提示：
该资讯来源于公开渠道，仅供参考。Traceless 无痕智盈平台不对此信息准确性做任何保证。