The cryptocurrency market has been generating a flurry of mixed signals in recent times. While Bitcoin continues its upward charge, many altcoins have struggled to keep pace, leaving investors puzzled about the durability of the crypto bull run. Contrary to some skepticism, a detailed report by Coinbase, one of the largest global crypto exchanges, paints a decidedly bullish outlook, suggesting that the crypto revolution is far from over and, in many ways, just beginning.
Crypto Adoption Among America's Corporate Titans
According to Coinbase's report titled "The future of money is here and it’s only just begun," blockchain technology and crypto initiatives are deeply infiltrating Fortune 500 companies. Remarkably, 60% of executives surveyed from these major firms are actively exploring onchain projects, with nearly half increasing their investments in such technologies. The number of onchain projects per company is on a steep rise—up 67% to an average of ten projects per firm—underscoring the growing corporate commitment to blockchain.
Payments and settlements lead the pack as the most popular blockchain applications, embraced by 47% of respondents, followed closely by supply chain management at 44%, and blockchain infrastructure at 40%. Notably, cross-border payment solutions are experiencing a surge, showing a 31% growth since the previous year—highlighting the demand for faster, cheaper global transactions.
The enthusiasm extends across diverse sectors such as transport, retail, food and beverage, and healthcare, with an impressive 18% of executives considering onchain initiatives central to their business strategies—an increase of 47% year-over-year. Moreover, 38% see blockchain projects as gateways to untapped revenue streams, indicating that crypto is not just an experimental tool but a strategic asset.
Small and Medium Businesses Embracing Crypto
Crypto’s influence is also rapidly expanding among small and medium businesses (SMBs), widely regarded as the backbone of the U.S. economy. Already, 34% of SMBs integrate crypto solutions within their operations, and nearly half of those who aren’t currently using crypto expect to adopt it within the next three years. The recognition of blockchain’s potential to solve everyday business challenges has surged, with 82% of SMBs acknowledging that crypto helps address at least one critical financial pain point—a sharp increase from 68% just a year prior.
Transaction fees and processing times top the list of SMB concerns, with 72% highlighting these as significant pain points crypto can alleviate. Cross-border payments, acceptance of preferred payment methods, and the complexity of multiple payment systems are also high on their list, with notable year-over-year increases in recognition.
Intriguingly, 46% of SMBs now view blockchain technology as a potential cybersecurity solution, a marked jump from 27% last year, reflecting a broader understanding of blockchain’s uses beyond mere payment facilitation. Finally, more than half of SMBs believe that crypto adoption will lead to cost savings—some companies have cut processing fees by half through crypto payments—signaling real-world financial benefits.
The Ascendance of Stablecoins
Stablecoins have emerged as pivotal players in the transition to crypto-based finance. The report highlights an exponential growth in stablecoin transaction volumes, peaking at nearly $720 billion in early 2025. This trend isn’t just about volume; stablecoins have begun to surpass traditional fintech giants, including PayPal and Venmo, in transaction volumes. Ownership has swelled to over 161 million users worldwide, a number four times the population of Canada.
In the U.S., stablecoins now represent about 10% of currency in circulation, with total supply surging 54% year-over-year to $247 billion. Market leaders Circle (USDC) and Tether (USDT) have amassed more US Treasury holdings than even major national governments, underscoring stablecoins’ deep entrenchment within the traditional financial ecosystem.
Both Fortune 500 firms and SMBs recognize stablecoins’ utility: nearly half of corporate executives and over 80% of SMBs believe stablecoins can speed up transactions and lower costs, particularly in cross-border payments where traditional fees can be exorbitant. These digital assets also provide solutions to payroll management challenges and serve as safeguards against inflation in volatile economies by offering dollar-pegged stability accessible globally without intermediaries.
Tokenized Real-World Assets: Bridging Traditional Finance and Blockchain
Beyond payments, tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) are redefining financial landscapes with staggering growth—expanding over 245 times between 2020 and 2025. Dominated by private credit (61%), tokenized treasuries (30%), commodities (7%), and institutional funds (2%), this sector is opening new avenues for liquidity, transparency, and accessibility.
Use cases include:
- Tokenized Treasuries & Cash Management: Businesses can achieve near-instant settlements 24/7, enhanced transparency, and programmable features that vastly outperform tokenized traditional bank accounts.
- Tokenized Invoices & Accounts Receivable: Streamlining cash flows by overcoming geographic and bureaucratic bottlenecks, tokenization facilitates access to global liquidity pools and automates payments using smart contracts, reducing fraud and administrative overhead.
- Tokenized Private Credit: Removing barriers for smaller investors by offering tradable private credit assets in secondary markets, increasing flexibility and financial inclusion previously limited to wealthy institutions.
The tokenized treasuries market has soared from under $500 million in 2022 to over $6 billion today, while private credit tokens now represent an astounding $12 billion valuation.
Institutional Investors Dive Into Crypto
2024 marked a milestone as spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs gained explosive popularity. The top spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $50 billion in cumulative inflows in their first year—double the amount of the historically most successful ETFs—with 79% driven by retail investors but a growing institutional presence.
Institutional interest is booming. A January 2025 survey of 352 institutional investors revealed:
- 86% have or plan to acquire crypto exposure in 2025.
- 83% intend to increase their crypto holdings.
- 59% plan to allocate more than 5% of assets under management to crypto products.
- 73% hold assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
- 84% actively use or plan to use stablecoins.
- 76% plan investments in tokenized real-world assets in 2026. The stage is set for an injection of unprecedented capital into the crypto ecosystem, especially in areas like tokenized assets and smart contract platforms such as Ethereum and Solana.
Regulatory Hurdles and Talent Gaps
Despite promising adoption rates, regulatory ambiguity remains the primary obstacle. Ninety percent of Fortune 500 executives call for clear crypto regulations to unleash full innovation potential. Unclear rules are causing confusion and slowing adoption—from stablecoins to blockchain-based solutions—with 54% citing regulatory concerns as a major barrier.
The fragmented legislative landscape in the U.S., where over 130 crypto-related bills are under consideration across 38 states, has created conflicting requirements, frustrating investors and businesses alike. Industry voices now call for comprehensive, unified federal crypto market structure legislation to harmonize regulations and foster confidence.
This regulatory uncertainty also fuels a talent shortage. Although the U.S. still comprises the largest global developer pool (39%), this share has halved since Ethereum’s inception in 2015. With countries like India expanding their developer bases, the U.S. risks losing its edge in blockchain innovation unless it clarifies regulatory frameworks and retains crypto-specific talent.
What the Future Holds
The takeaway? We are still at the nascent stage of crypto adoption. Wall Street and enterprises are only starting to place their bets on blockchain and tokenized assets. Those who embraced crypto during market lows stand best positioned for the forthcoming wave of investment and growth.
As clearer regulation arrives—anticipated imminently via federal efforts to solidify stablecoin laws and market structure—the floodgates will open. Bitcoin is expected to gain more prominence in national reserves and company balance sheets. Simultaneously, stablecoins will integrate more deeply into financial infrastructure, enhancing liquidity and lowering transaction costs.
Broader crypto assets, particularly smart contract platforms that enable tokenized real-world asset markets, are poised for explosive growth. This evolution will reshape traditional finance, unlock new capital sources, and redefine how business and governments engage with money in the digital age.
In sum, Wall Street’s bold gamble on crypto is accelerating a fundamental shift across industries and economies. The journey has just begun, and its transformative impact has only started to ripple through the world of finance. Investors and businesses that recognize and adapt to these changes stand to benefit profoundly as this decentralized future unfolds.
By Wolfy Wealth - Empowering crypto investors since 2016
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Disclosure: Authors may be crypto investors mentioned in this newsletter. Wolfy Wealth Crypto newsletter, does not represent an offer to trade securities or other financial instruments. Our analyses, information and investment strategies are for informational purposes only, in order to spread knowledge about the crypto market. Any investments in variable income may cause partial or total loss of the capital used. Therefore, the recipient of this newsletter should always develop their own analyses and investment strategies. In addition, any investment decisions should be based on the investor's risk profile.
