Why institutions/corporates need crypto and what that means for you

In 2024–2025, crypto got even more legit. Large institutions stepped in with regulated spot ETFs, tokenized money-market funds and stablecoin payments at global processors. Why do they need all this, and what advantages do mortal crypto people get as a result?

Quick explainer

When we say corporate/mainstream players, we mean household-name companies and payment networks, plus banks and fintechs you already know. Meanwhile, institutions are the big pools of money (pension funds, asset managers, insurers, hedge funds) that move carefully and prefer regulated products.

An ETF (exchange-traded fund) is a regulated wrapper you buy in a normal brokerage account, like a stock, but, in crypto terms, it holds an asset such as Bitcoin or Ethereum inside, so no wallets are required. It is also critical to keep in mind tokenization, which means putting traditional assets (like cash or Treasuries) on a blockchain so they settle faster and are easier to move.

All of this doesn’t guarantee prices go up, but it does mean the pipes are getting better, and everyday users can plug in with less friction.

Regulated ETFs for BTC and ETH

In January 2024, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved several spot Bitcoin funds you can buy in a normal brokerage account—just like a stock or an S&P 500 ETF. An official approval arrived on January 10, 2024 and changed the world of digital assets.

By July 2024, the same thing arrived for Ethereum. On day one, the new ETH funds did about $1.1B in trading volume and took in $100M+ of new money.  The details vary by provider, but the point stands: both majors now have regulated wrappers. 

Why you care: ETFs don’t change how blockchains work—but they normalize access for pensions, advisors, and everyday brokerage users, which tends to deepen liquidity and reduce the “this is fringe” stigma.

Tokenization stops being a buzzword

In 2024–2025, a big theme is tokenization — putting traditional assets like cash or government bonds onto a blockchain so they can move 24/7, settle faster, and be tracked transparently. BlackRock’s BUIDL, a tokenized US dollar liquidity fund, has become a flagship example. By April 2025, it crossed ~$1.9B AUM and continues to grow.

Across the market, tokenized US Treasuries tracked by RWA.xyz recently totaled around $8B+ on public chains—a tidy, real-yield base that didn’t exist at this scale a couple of years ago.

Why you care: Tokenized funds and T-bills mean 24/7 rails and faster settlement, with transparent wallets and programmatic payouts. It’s boring, on purpose—and boring is good infrastructure.

Stablecoins & payments

If ETFs are the “front door” for investors, stablecoins are the pipes that move money around once you’re inside. A stablecoin is a crypto token designed to track $1 (or another currency) so you can send value anytime, anywhere without bank hours.

In 2024–2025, the story shifted from demos to real usage: payment giants and fintechs started wiring stablecoins into checkout, remittances, and settlement. The result is simple but powerful—faster transfers, lower frictions, and fewer scary crypto steps for everyday users and businesses.

Big-name fintech implementations:
▪️PayPal’s PYUSD expanded to Solana in May 2024 to cut fees and speed up transfers, and later rolled into Xoom as a funding option—signs PYUSD is meant for actual movement, not just headlines.
▪️Visa expanded stablecoin settlement to additional blockchains and partners (including Solana) as part of modernizing cross-border money movement.
▪️Mastercard Crypto Credential went live with a P2P pilot, swapping long wallet strings for human-readable aliases—small UX wins that matter at scale.
▪️In wholesale banking, J.P. Morgan’s Onyx platform (now Kinexys) reports >$2B average daily transaction volume since inception—evidence that big-ticket money is actually moving on tokenized rails.

Why you care: The more global brands wire stablecoins and tokenized deposits into their stacks, the more useful, fast and familiar crypto rails become—without you changing a thing.

What this mainstreaming really changes

When regulated funds, tokenized cash and stablecoin payments plug into familiar finance, access gets easier, trades clear smoother, and crypto feels less “experimental.” In short, more doors open, and the hallway is less slippery.

Changes and improvements:
▪️Legitimacy & oversight: Regulated wrappers (ETFs) make institutional allocations easier to justify internally—more steady demand, fewer “gatekeeper” hurdles.
▪️Deeper liquidity: Tokenized cash/T-bills and stablecoin settlement keep capital on-chain and ready, supporting tighter spreads when you trade.
▪️UX creep toward normal: Wallet aliases, faster rails, and brand-name integrations reduce the “I’m doing something exotic” feeling—and shrink operational friction.

No crystal balls here—just a sturdier base layer for whatever market mood comes next.

Putting it to work on EXMO

We’re not here to tell you what to buy; we’re here to help you use the improved rails smartly:
▪️Track the signals that matter. In Advanced Trade on EXMO, pin BTC/ETH and your watchlist, and set price alerts around macro events (ETF flows, central-bank meetings). It’s an easy way to keep context without doomscrolling.
▪️Use stablecoins as a staging area. If you’re between moves, parking in USDT/USDC gives you fast reaction time. If idle for a bit, EXMO Earn offers Flexible and Fixed options (check in-app for current terms and your regional availability).
▪️Trim friction if you’re active. Frequent rebalances? EXMO Premium (payable in EXM) can lower maker/taker fees.

Regional note: Availability of Earn tiers/Premium can vary by jurisdiction (EEA users: Earn tiers not available; Basic only). Always check the latest in-app terms.

Mainstream adoption doesn’t guarantee green candles, but it raises the floor for infrastructure, access and utility. ETFs give institutions a compliant on-ramp; tokenization turns finance into code; stablecoins knit everything together. That’s a sturdier starting point than last cycle and a healthier one for newcomers.

This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments involve risk, and you should always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before making decisions.