In 2025, institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies has exceeded expectations, with 86% of global institutional investors either holding or planning to invest in digital assets. A survey by EY–Coinbase reveals a strong preference for regulated investment vehicles, such as ETFs, with 60% of investors choosing them over direct token holdings. Notably, BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has amassed nearly $100 billion in assets by Q3 2025, while crypto ETFs have seen annual inflows of $6.96 billion. The growth in decentralized finance (DeFi) is also notable, with adoption expected to rise from 24% in 2024 to 75% by 2026, particularly among U.S. hedge funds and family offices. Additionally, stablecoin usage is on the rise, with 84% of investors utilizing or planning to utilize stablecoins for yield generation and settlement. This surge in institutional interest is supported by regulatory advancements, including the U.S. Treasury's Stablecoin Oversight Act and the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.