Binance CEO highlights institutional role in driving Bitcoin adoption
2025-02-07
Category: None

Richard Teng, the CEO of crypto exchange Binance, highlighted the importance of institutional investors and evolving regulations for the wider adoption of cryptocurrencies.
The spot Bitcoin BTCUSD exchange-traded funds (ETFs) market in the US raked in $44.2 billion in its first year of operations since Jan. 10, 2024. In January 2025 alone, the Bitcoin ETF market recorded nearly $5 billion worth of inflows. 
The staggering monthly inflows — despite high BTC market prices — also led Bitwise investment chief Matt Hougan to predict that the spot Bitcoin ETF market in the US could see inflows of over $50 billion by the end of 2025. 
Teng said that inclusive regulations combined with institutional participation are ensuring that the digital asset ecosystem is becoming “essential to the broader financial system.”
A Binance research report from October 2024 found that 80% of Bitcoin ETF demand comes from retail investors.
Moreover, a “notable portion” of the buying activity was traced back to retail investors rotating their holdings from digital wallets and centralized exchanges into the funds, which offer increased regulatory protections, according to the report.
However, the demand from the institutional side has seen steady growth — investment advisers and hedge funds standing as the two fastest-growing parties of interest.
In response to Teng’s tweet, community members pointed out the need for true decentralization, which guarantees financial sovereignty for individuals. On the flip side, interest in futures trading is declining, according to recent data.
On Feb. 6, Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), a media and tech company owned by US President Donald Trump, filed trademark registrations for various ETFs and separately managed accounts (SMAs) tied to the Truth Social platform and Truth+ video streaming service.
The trademarks include Truth.Fi Made in America ETF, Truth.Fi Made in America SMA, Truth.Fi US Energy Independence ETF, Truth.Fi US Energy Independence SMA, Truth.Fi Bitcoin Plus ETF and Truth.Fi Bitcoin Plus SMA.
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