Institutional interest in cryptocurrencies is increasingly focusing on XRP and tokenization, according to Bitwise Head of Research Ryan Rasmussen. Speaking on the Milk Road podcast, Rasmussen noted a significant rise in engagement from financial professionals, with questions tripling in recent meetings. This shift indicates a growing interest in practical applications of crypto, such as XRP and tokenization networks, rather than questioning the legitimacy of digital assets. Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan highlighted the stark contrast in institutional engagement compared to past market downturns, with firms like Goldman Sachs expanding their tokenization efforts. Despite this enthusiasm, regulatory clarity remains a critical factor for further institutional allocation. Recent progress by the U.S. SEC and CFTC in defining asset categories, including XRP as a digital commodity, is seen as a positive step towards unlocking major capital inflows into the crypto market.