Bitcoin and Crypto – Who’s About to Make a Big Splash 

With Bitcoin’s October 2025 all-time high of around US$125,689 still fresh in investors’ minds, it’s no surprise that retail sentiment remains a little bruised. The excitement of the rally quickly gave way to a sharp cooldown, leaving many everyday holders cautious, regretful, or simply sidelined. But while the retail mood looks uncertain on the surface, something more significant is happening beneath it: the world’s biggest financial players are quietly moving into crypto — and they’re bringing serious capital with them.

Take Citadel Securities, for example. In what may be one of the clearest indicators of where institutional money is headed, Citadel participated in a US$500 million private funding round for Ripple, pushing the company’s implied valuation to approximately US$40 billion. This isn’t a hedge fund dabbling with spare change. Citadel is one of the most formidable forces in global finance — and it doesn’t place casual bets. By acquiring equity in a company whose valuation is closely tied to its XRP holdings, Citadel is effectively signalling that Ripple’s long-term prospects, and the broader crypto ecosystem, warrant serious attention.

Then there’s Vanguard — hardly a name associated with bold plays. Known for its low-cost index funds and conservative investment philosophy, Vanguard surprised many in December 2025 by opening access to regulated crypto ETFs. More than 50 million clients can now gain exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana through their existing brokerage or retirement accounts. With over $11 trillion under management, Vanguard’s move doesn’t just add liquidity — it reshapes the entry point for traditional investors into digital assets.

Perhaps the most telling shift, however, comes from Jamie Dimon, long-time crypto critic and CEO of JPMorgan. After years of dismissing Bitcoin — even threatening to fire employees for trading it — Dimon now acknowledges that crypto and stablecoins are “real” and will have a place in the financial system. JPMorgan has even announced plans to allow institutional clients to use Bitcoin and Ethereum as collateral. It’s a striking reversal — and a strong signal to the rest of Wall Street.

So, while retail investors may be nursing losses from the October peak, institutional finance is taking a different approach — planting long-term roots. From Citadel’s strategic equity plays, to Vanguard’s broad crypto access, and JPMorgan’s pivot from rejection to adoption, the message is increasingly clear: crypto’s next phase may be driven not by hype, but by the strategic moves of the world’s most powerful financial institutions.