Nearly half of institutional investors say they are now focusing more on risk control, liquidity, and position sizing.
A survey conducted by EY-Parthenon in partnership with Coinbase and released on March 18 shows that three out of four institutional investors expect cryptocurrency prices to rise over the next year.
The results indicate that recent market declines have not weakened confidence but have instead encouraged more disciplined strategies among large investors.
Key Insights From the Data
According to the report, 73 percent of respondents plan to increase their crypto investments in 2026, while 74 percent believe prices will climb within the next 12 months. At the same time, 49 percent said they are placing greater importance on managing risk, maintaining liquidity, and carefully sizing their positions due to ongoing market volatility.
The findings also show that regulated investment vehicles have become the preferred entry point. About 66 percent of participants already hold spot crypto exchange traded funds or exchange traded products, while 81 percent said they prefer gaining exposure through regulated channels.
Stablecoins are also gaining traction beyond theoretical use. The survey found that 86 percent of investors are either already using them or exploring their use for cash management and transferring funds. Many firms are also introducing formal policies around counterparty risk and reserve transparency to integrate stablecoins into their financial systems.
This trend aligns with recent developments such as Mastercard acquiring BVNK for 1.8 billion dollars on March 17, a move aimed at strengthening cross border payments and business transactions.
Tokenization is following a similar growth path. Over the past year, the proportion of asset managers interested in tokenizing their own assets increased from 40 percent to 64 percent. In addition, 63 percent of investors said they are open to investing in tokenized assets, while 61 percent believe tokenization will significantly influence trading, clearing, and settlement processes within the next three to five years.
A recent example includes Kraken partnering with Nasdaq to develop tokenized equities through its xStocks product, which has already processed more than 25 billion dollars in transactions.
Regulation Remains a Key Factor
The survey highlights that regulation plays a dual role in shaping investor behavior. Among institutions planning to increase crypto exposure in 2026, 65 percent cited clearer regulations as a primary motivation. At the same time, 66 percent identified regulatory uncertainty as their biggest concern.
When asked where clearer guidance is most needed, 78 percent pointed to market structure. This was followed by digital asset firm licensing at 56 percent and tax treatment at 54 percent.
There has been some progress in this area. The United States introduced the GENIUS Act last year, establishing the first federal framework for stablecoins. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission has recently issued guidance on tokenized securities and revived Project Crypto in collaboration with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to promote a more coordinated regulatory approach to digital assets.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic
