Nearly 40% of institutional investors had exposure to crypto assets in 2023, up from 31% in 2021. A survey by KPMG in Canada and the Canadian Association of Alternative Assets & Strategies shows a significant increase in interest. One-third of respondents now allocate at least 10% of their portfolio to crypto assets, compared to one-fifth two years ago.

The maturing market and improved custody infrastructure, cited by 67% of respondents, have driven this growing interest. Additionally, 58% were motivated by the strong market performance of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, which saw significant gains in recent years. The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs by the US SEC in January has also facilitated institutional investments.

A Digital Assets Council survey found that 35% of financial advisers plan to recommend crypto investments, up from 21% the previous year. Major firms like JPMorgan and AllianceBernstein have increased their research coverage of digital assets, leading to more sophisticated discussions between investor relations professionals and institutional investors.

In Hong Kong, regulatory clarity and recent approvals of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have spurred increased interest from both institutional and retail investors. OSL Group has seen a rise in investor interest, with more proactive investor relations strategies. Hong Kong recently launched its first batch of crypto-focused ETFs, with Harvest Global Investments and partnerships between HashKey Capital and Bosera Asset Management listing Bitcoin and Ether ETFs.