Institutional Investors Turn Bullish on Crypto, Back ETFs, Stablecoins

A survey by EY-Parthenon and Coinbase of 351 institutional investors (Mar 18) finds strong crypto optimism. Three out of four institutional investors expect crypto prices to rise over the next 12 months, and 73% plan to increase crypto allocations in 2026. While volatility remains a concern, 49% of institutional investors say they will tighten execution—prioritizing risk management, liquidity, and position sizing rather than cutting exposure. Access is shifting toward regulated products. 66% already hold spot crypto ETFs or other exchange-traded products (ETPs), and 81% prefer getting exposure via registered vehicles. Stablecoins and tokenization are gaining traction. 86% are already using or considering stablecoins for treasury/cash management and payments. For tokenization, the share of asset managers seeking to tokenize their own assets rose from 40% to 64% over the past year, and 61% expect meaningful changes to trading, clearing, and settlement in the next 3–5 years. Regulation is both catalyst and risk: 65% cite clearer rules as a reason to buy more crypto, but 66% see regulatory uncertainty as the biggest worry. Investors point to needed clarity on market structure (78%), firm licensing (56%), and tax treatment (54%). The report highlights the U.S. GENIUS Act stablecoin framework and related SEC guidance on tokenized securities, alongside SEC/CFTC coordination via Project Crypto.