Franklin Templeton is creating a dedicated cryptocurrency arm by acquiring 250 Digital, a firm that was spun out of CoinFund earlier this year. The move comes amid a broader market downturn but signals a continued institutional push into digital assets.
At the Digital Asset Summit in New York, Robbie Mitchnick of BlackRock warned that most existing crypto tokens lack long-term value and said the firm will concentrate on a narrow set of durable, compliant digital assets and infrastructure. His comments underline a more selective institutional stance toward crypto.
AQR founder Cliff Asness argued on Mar 23, 2026 that cryptocurrencies behave like risk‑on assets rather than dependable safe havens, directly challenging the 'digital gold' narrative. His stance may prompt institutional investors to rethink allocation and risk models.
Harvard's endowment cut Bitcoin exposure while adding Ether, a shift experts say reflects volatility and private equity cash needs rather than a bearish verdict on crypto. Analysts see the change as a constructive sign for ETH and broader institutional engagement.
Fidelity says Bitcoin’s four‑year boom-and-bust rhythm may be fading as institutions, deeper liquidity, and changing ownership structures reshape its behavior. The firm argues this could push bitcoin into a longer-term macro asset role in investor portfolios.
With outlooks for stocks and bonds subdued, several endowments are experimenting with bitcoin and ether holdings to diversify portfolios and seek higher returns. The shift reflects cautious institutional adoption as funds balance return targets against crypto volatility.
ETHZilla plunged roughly 97% after reports surfaced that Peter Thiel’s team is abandoning an ‘Ethereum Treasury’ model, triggering heavy selling. Social posts framed the rout as "paper hands" fleeing while longer-term holders look to buy.
Michael Saylor reiterated on Feb 11, 2026 that MicroStrategy will continue accumulating bitcoin and has no intention to sell, even in a prolonged downturn. BTC trades around $65,900–$66,150.
Citigroup reaffirmed its buy rating on MicroStrategy on Feb. 9, 2026, backing the firm’s continued Bitcoin accumulation despite billions in unrealized losses. The move signals ongoing institutional confidence in corporate Bitcoin treasuries.
WisdomTree CEO Jonathan Steinberg says the firm's tokenization arm is close to turning profitable, backed by $750 million in digital assets, as the asset manager positions crypto at the center of its business while overseeing $150 billion in assets.