Major institutional investors are weighing in on cryptocurrency valuations, and the consensus seems bullish. According to professionals managing trillions in assets, the current market conditions present an interesting opportunity for crypto exposure—particularly bitcoin. As of early February 2026, Bitcoin is trading at $78.69K, and industry observers are examining whether these price levels represent a genuine buying opportunity based on fundamental metrics.
When Mining Costs Meet Market Price: A Buying Signal?
Understanding bitcoin’s value requires comparing it to traditional commodities. Unlike stocks or bonds, bitcoin can be analyzed through the lens of production economics—specifically, the cost required to mine new coins.
Dominic Rizzo, global technology portfolio manager at T. Rowe Price (which oversees over $1 trillion in assets), drew this parallel during recent industry discussions. He explained that when a commodity’s price moves close to its average production cost, it often signals a potential market floor. “Bitcoin itself has traded very close to its average cost to mine,” Rizzo noted. “If you think about it like a traditional commodity, that’s actually historically a really good time to have exposure to it when it’s close to its cost of mining.”
This principle comes from contrarian investing theory. When the spot price of any commodity hovers near extraction costs, bearish sentiment is typically already reflected in current pricing. This creates a scenario where downside risk is limited and potential upside gains become more attractive. Market participants use this “mining cost as floor” indicator to identify opportune entry points, making the case that now could indeed be a good time to buy crypto assets.
Blockchain and Digital Payments: The Future of Fintech
Beyond price analysis, Rizzo emphasized that blockchain technology and digital payments represent core components of the fintech and artificial intelligence revolution. “The world is getting more global, we’re moving from cash to digital payments,” he explained. “Digital payments is really at the nexus of moving money cheaply and taking a software-driven approach to areas that have historically been not software-driven.”
Blockchain sits at the intersection of this transformation. Rather than viewing it as purely speculative, major investors see it as infrastructure for the next generation of financial systems. The convergence of AI and blockchain technologies is creating new opportunities in how money flows globally and how transactions are processed.
How to Get Exposure to Crypto and AI Through Smart Investments
For investors seeking to participate in this trend without directly holding bitcoin, there are strategic alternatives. Rizzo suggested gaining blockchain exposure through established financial technology companies. Stocks like Coinbase and Robinhood offer indirect cryptocurrency exposure while providing the regulatory oversight and operational infrastructure that institutional investors require.
This approach allows investors to benefit from the crypto and fintech revolution without the volatility concerns associated with direct cryptocurrency holdings. It’s a pragmatic way to build a position in emerging digital asset markets while maintaining portfolio stability.
The takeaway is clear: institutional investors increasingly view this as a good time to consider cryptocurrency exposure as part of a diversified investment strategy. Whether through direct holdings or via fintech company stocks, the consensus suggests that now represents a meaningful opportunity to gain exposure to digital assets and blockchain innovation.
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Is Now a Good Time to Buy Crypto? What Major Investors Are Saying About Bitcoin
Major institutional investors are weighing in on cryptocurrency valuations, and the consensus seems bullish. According to professionals managing trillions in assets, the current market conditions present an interesting opportunity for crypto exposure—particularly bitcoin. As of early February 2026, Bitcoin is trading at $78.69K, and industry observers are examining whether these price levels represent a genuine buying opportunity based on fundamental metrics.
When Mining Costs Meet Market Price: A Buying Signal?
Understanding bitcoin’s value requires comparing it to traditional commodities. Unlike stocks or bonds, bitcoin can be analyzed through the lens of production economics—specifically, the cost required to mine new coins.
Dominic Rizzo, global technology portfolio manager at T. Rowe Price (which oversees over $1 trillion in assets), drew this parallel during recent industry discussions. He explained that when a commodity’s price moves close to its average production cost, it often signals a potential market floor. “Bitcoin itself has traded very close to its average cost to mine,” Rizzo noted. “If you think about it like a traditional commodity, that’s actually historically a really good time to have exposure to it when it’s close to its cost of mining.”
This principle comes from contrarian investing theory. When the spot price of any commodity hovers near extraction costs, bearish sentiment is typically already reflected in current pricing. This creates a scenario where downside risk is limited and potential upside gains become more attractive. Market participants use this “mining cost as floor” indicator to identify opportune entry points, making the case that now could indeed be a good time to buy crypto assets.
Blockchain and Digital Payments: The Future of Fintech
Beyond price analysis, Rizzo emphasized that blockchain technology and digital payments represent core components of the fintech and artificial intelligence revolution. “The world is getting more global, we’re moving from cash to digital payments,” he explained. “Digital payments is really at the nexus of moving money cheaply and taking a software-driven approach to areas that have historically been not software-driven.”
Blockchain sits at the intersection of this transformation. Rather than viewing it as purely speculative, major investors see it as infrastructure for the next generation of financial systems. The convergence of AI and blockchain technologies is creating new opportunities in how money flows globally and how transactions are processed.
How to Get Exposure to Crypto and AI Through Smart Investments
For investors seeking to participate in this trend without directly holding bitcoin, there are strategic alternatives. Rizzo suggested gaining blockchain exposure through established financial technology companies. Stocks like Coinbase and Robinhood offer indirect cryptocurrency exposure while providing the regulatory oversight and operational infrastructure that institutional investors require.
This approach allows investors to benefit from the crypto and fintech revolution without the volatility concerns associated with direct cryptocurrency holdings. It’s a pragmatic way to build a position in emerging digital asset markets while maintaining portfolio stability.
The takeaway is clear: institutional investors increasingly view this as a good time to consider cryptocurrency exposure as part of a diversified investment strategy. Whether through direct holdings or via fintech company stocks, the consensus suggests that now represents a meaningful opportunity to gain exposure to digital assets and blockchain innovation.