Have institutions really entered the market? Why are Bitcoin and Ethereum still in the early stages

Question

【Crypto World】Regarding the judgment that Bitcoin and Ethereum are still in the “early stages,” many people misunderstand — this is not about price potential, but about the actual level of institutional participation.

Looking at reality makes it clear. Although recent market rallies have been strong, globally, large pension funds, endowment funds, and sovereign wealth funds still have almost zero allocation to these two assets. Why? Policies don’t permit it, authorization documents don’t mention it, internal compliance approvals are extremely strict — these are common reasons.

Now, although infrastructure like ETFs has been established, the actual automated capital allocation process has not yet started. Institutional investors don’t enter the market as quickly as retail investors; they have to go through lengthy approvals, risk assessments, committee votes, and sometimes a decision can take half a year to finalize. Compared to market cycles, this process is much slower.

Therefore, no matter how much Bitcoin and Ethereum prices rise, from the perspective of institutional allocation, their integration into mainstream investment portfolios has only just begun. This is not to say there are no opportunities; on the contrary, it indicates there is still significant room for growth in the future.

SandwichTrader · Accepted Answer

Haha, really, compliance is even more difficult than pumping the market... The pension fund folks are probably still in meetings discussing how to hold meetings.

pvt_key_collector · Answer

Really? The pension funds are still holding meetings to discuss whether to hold meetings, retail investors have already jumped in several rounds.

Compliance is just an invisible ceiling; no matter how much money there is, it has to be slowly accumulated.

The adoption cycle for institutions is really slow; it feels like we still need to wait a few more years to see true big capital inflows.

Rising prices are useless; the key is for those big funds to streamline their internal processes.

To be honest, it's still a playground for retail investors; only when institutions truly arrive will the real game begin.

The ETF is set up but no one is using it, just like a highway that's built but no one is on it.

The half-year approval process is unbelievable; comparing it to the internet industry, it's really ridiculously slow.

RealYieldWizard · Answer

Haha, the fact that compliance is so strict really hits the funny bone. Retail investors have already jumped in, and institutions are still in meetings.

The pension fund folks are probably still debating repeatedly. By the time they make a decision, the crypto circle will have already switched tracks.

ETF paving the way but without automatic allocation, it's like opening a door but no one walks in—quite awkward.

By the time they fully allocate, it might no longer be early, and the prices could be different by then.

Early judgment is indeed easy to confuse, but using institutional participation as a measure still makes some sense.

A decision every half year shows how inefficient they are; no wonder the market is always a step ahead of them.

LightningSentry · Answer

Haha, that's why I always say retail investors run fast but can't go far. The real growth depends on when the big institutions will truly enter the market.

Once ETF liquidity picks up, major players like pension funds will gradually open the floodgates, and that's when the real long-term bull market will begin.

We're still in the wild era now; the compliance hurdle is indeed very tough.

Institutional actions are slow, it takes half a year for a decision... but once they start, it's a hundredfold or thousandfold increase in capital.

Honestly, many people are buying at high prices thinking they've bottomed out, but little do they know that institutions haven't even started to exit yet.

MoonMathMagic · Answer

Damn, this is the key. We retail investors stare at the K-line every day, not realizing that the big players are still in meetings.

Their approval process is really impressive. A resolution takes at least half a year, while we've already gone through several bull and bear cycles.

So, does that mean the real big move hasn't started yet? Then what is the current rally, just an appetizer?

If the compliance hurdle is truly cleared, once the pension funds step in, our small market simply can't hold them.

Therefore, the window for bottom-fishing is actually quite large. Just wait patiently for their process to finish.

ETFs are just the stepping stone; the real key is when these big funds will actually start to enter.

It seems most people are blinded by the recent gains and didn't realize there are so many constraints.

A resolution takes half a year? My goodness, that's even slower than on-chain transactions.

Policy is the biggest variable. Once compliance is relaxed, that will be the real trigger point.

AirdropBuffet · Answer

Haha, compliance approval has been stuck for half a year, and institutions are really giving up. That's why retail investors are taking off first.

The real big players haven't even arrived yet; this is just the appetizer.

ETFs are in place, but the capital flow hasn't opened up yet. This is the real early stage.

Just looking at price fluctuations doesn't tell the whole story; you need to see where the money is flowing.

Pension funds are probably still in meetings discussing whether to hold meetings to discuss it.

Have institutions really entered the market? Why are Bitcoin and Ethereum still in the early stages

Trending Topics

GateFun马勒戈币Surges1251.09%

GateSquareCreatorNewYearIncentives

NonfarmPayrollsComing

DailyMarketOverview

IstheMarketBottoming?

Hot Gate Fun

我赶上了赶上了来，你咋没

我赶上了

海豹舞

SEALDANCE

WCNMB

卧槽尼马币

芝麻管理员

芝麻管理员

一马当仙

一马当仙

Pin

Your First Words Matter!
Share your first post on and split $10,000 in New Year rewards.
Post with #My2026FirstPost to share your New Year wish
2026U Position Voucher, Gate New Year boxes, F1 Red Bull merch await you!
Ends on Jan 15, 2026, 16:00 UTC
2026 starts with this post!

Have institutions really entered the market? Why are Bitcoin and Ethereum still in the early stages

Trending Topics

GateFun马勒戈币Surges1251.09%

GateSquareCreatorNewYearIncentives

NonfarmPayrollsComing

DailyMarketOverview

IstheMarketBottoming?

Hot Gate Fun

我赶上了赶上了来，你咋没

我赶上了

海豹舞

SEALDANCE

WCNMB

卧槽尼马币

芝麻管理员

芝麻管理员

一马当仙

一马当仙

Pin

Your First Words Matter! Share your first post on and split $10,000 in New Year rewards. Post with #My2026FirstPost to share your New Year wish 2026U Position Voucher, Gate New Year boxes, F1 Red Bull merch await you! Ends on Jan 15, 2026, 16:00 UTC 2026 starts with this post!

Your First Words Matter!
Share your first post on and split $10,000 in New Year rewards.
Post with #My2026FirstPost to share your New Year wish
2026U Position Voucher, Gate New Year boxes, F1 Red Bull merch await you!
Ends on Jan 15, 2026, 16:00 UTC
2026 starts with this post!