Bitcoin News Update: Institutional Confidence Grows with Structured Crypto Products and Tokenized Assets as ETFs See $524M Inflows

Institutional investors remain steadfast in the cryptocurrency sector, with 55% expecting digital asset prices to rebound in the near term, as revealed by a recent banking poll. This positive outlook stands in contrast to the mixed attitudes among retail investors and the persistent volatility seen in leading cryptocurrencies. In response, platforms such as RockToken and Binance are rolling out structured investment products to attract institutional funds.

Based in New Zealand, RockToken has established itself as a connector between conventional and digital finance by providing investment contracts backed by infrastructure. Its multi-level offerings—from the introductory "Genesis Pass" to the premium "Whale Reserve"—enable participants to access

, , and USDC without the need to handle hardware. Nicholas Aitken, RockToken's CEO, highlighted the company's commitment to "transparency, returns, and operational responsibility," in structured crypto investment options among those seeking retirement planning and passive income.

At the same time, Binance has broadened its institutional services by adding BlackRock's BUIDL token as a form of off-exchange collateral. This allows traders to leverage tokenized U.S. Treasury assets to back their trades and earn yields, mirroring the traditional finance practice of using Treasurys as collateral. Binance’s move to support BUIDL by Deribit and Bybit, highlighting a growing trend of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) becoming standard in trading.

Institutional optimism is also evident in ETF activity. U.S.-listed Bitcoin ETFs

last week, largely due to BlackRock’s and Fidelity’s FBTC, as investors anticipate macroeconomic easing in 2026. In contrast, Ethereum ETFs experienced $107 million in outflows, underscoring ongoing regulatory concerns about its staking framework. that Bitcoin’s reputation as a "macro hedge" continues to draw institutional interest, while Ethereum’s broader adoption among institutions depends on regulatory developments.

Despite fluctuations in ETF flows, the overall market remains wary. Last week, Bitcoin’s price hovered around $97,000, with technical signals such as the Death Cross and a falling RSI indicating bearish momentum. Both Ethereum and

dropped below important moving averages, though there is cautious optimism for a short-term bounce if open interest and on-chain metrics improve .

Institutional sentiment is further strengthened by international developments. The United States and Switzerland have concluded a trade agreement

to 15% and securing $200 billion in U.S. investments by 2028. The deal, which aims to put the U.S. on equal footing with EU rivals, also includes measures to boost U.S. agricultural exports and simplify customs. While directly tied to crypto, this agreement highlights global initiatives to stabilize markets, which could support greater institutional involvement in digital assets.

Looking forward, the crypto industry is gearing up for a significant year in 2026.

plans for the Consensus x SALT Hong Kong Institutional Summit in February 2026, bringing together leading asset managers and regulators. SALT founder Anthony Scaramucci described the event as a "leading institutional forum" amid regulatory advancements and increasing capital inflows.

As the industry evolves and regulations advance, the gap between speculative trading and institutional long-term strategies is narrowing. With the introduction of RockToken’s structured products, Binance’s RWA initiatives, and the momentum from ETF inflows, the crypto sector is increasingly adopting the infrastructure, transparency, and yield focus typical of traditional finance.

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