Where Will the Money for the Next Bull Market Come From?
Where Will the Money for the Next Crypto Bull Run Come From?
Bitcoin's sharp decline from $126,000 to $90,000 has caused panic and a liquidity crunch. However, structural tailwinds are emerging: the SEC plans an "Innovation Exemption" rule, the Fed is expected to begin a rate-cutting cycle, and global institutional pathways are maturing.
The myth of Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs) is fading. Their buying power is insufficient (under 5% of the crypto market) and they can become net sellers during downturns.
The real catalysts are institutional. The end of Fed quantitative tightening and potential rate cuts could inject liquidity. A crypto-friendly Fed leadership could further open the banking system to crypto. The SEC's shifting stance, moving crypto from a "threat" to a regulated asset class, reduces compliance barriers.
Three key pipelines could deliver the next wave of capital:
1. **Institutional Entry:** Global Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs provide a standardized entry point. Mature custody and settlement infrastructure (e.g., from BNY Mellon) enables efficient capital deployment. Even a 1-3% allocation from pensions and sovereign wealth funds would represent trillions.
2. **Real-World Assets (RWA):** Tokenizing traditional assets (bonds, real estate) creates a bridge to TradFi. The RWA market, projected to grow 50x to multi-trillions by 2030, offers massive, stable, yield-bearing assets for DeFi (e.g., MakerDAO's use of U.S. Treasuries).
3. **Infrastructure Upgrades:** Layer 2 solutions reduce costs and speed up transactions for institutional use. Stablecoins, with a $166B market cap and $4T in on-chain volume, have become a pillar for compliant, efficient settlements.
The money is expected to arrive in phases: a short-term policy-driven rebound (2025-2026), followed by gradual institutional allocation (2026-2027), and finally long-term structural growth powered by RWA integration (2027-2030). The next bull run will be built not on retail speculation, but on institutional trust and infrastructure.
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