Over 70% of Institutional Traders Plan to Steer Clear of Crypto in 2025: JPMorgan Survey

A JPMorgan e-trading survey has revealed that over 70% of institutional traders have no plans to trade crypto in 2025.

According to the January survey, 71% of institutional traders said they would not engage in crypto trading this year.

While this represents a slight decrease from 78% in 2024, it still indicates a significant reluctance to enter the market.

JPMorgan Survey: 16% of Institutional Traders Plan to Trader Crypto in 2025

Meanwhile, 16% of respondents said they planned to trade digital assets in 2025, and 13% reported already doing so, both figures marking an increase from last year.

Despite the crypto skepticism, the survey found that 100% of respondents planned to increase online or e-trading activity, particularly for less liquid assets.

The survey results come at a time when the regulatory landscape for digital assets in the United States has been improving following a shift in leadership at major financial agencies.

“Recent headlines suggest that the new administration supports the market, and recent changes have lowered the barriers for traditional banking community members to enter this space,” said Eddie Wen, JPMorgan’s global head of digital markets, in an interview with Bloomberg.

However, this regulatory shift does not appear to have translated into widespread institutional adoption, as most surveyed traders remain hesitant about trading crypto.

Beyond digital assets, institutional traders are focusing on broader macroeconomic risks heading into 2025.

JPMorgan Survey: Institutional Crypto Adoption on the Rise

🔹 The percentage of institutional traders not planning to trade crypto in 2025 dropped from 78% to 71% (-7%)
🔹 Those planning to trade digital assets in 2025 rose from 12% to 16% (+4%)
🔹 Institutions already using… pic.twitter.com/ka5iRtzX9l

— Thunder Crypto 9 (@thunder_crypto9) February 6, 2025

The survey found that inflation and tariffs were expected to have the biggest impact on global markets this year, followed closely by geopolitical tensions.

Additionally, 41% of respondents cited market volatility as their primary trading challenge, up from 28% in 2024.

“It does not surprise me that 51% of the participants thought that tariffs and inflation will be two of the central risks or two of the central spots for the market to focus on,” said Gergana Thiel, global co-head of Macro Sales at JPMorgan.

US Government Signals Growing Crypto Support

While institutional traders remain cautious, the U.S. government is showing increasing support for the crypto industry.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently scaled back its crypto enforcement unit, signaling a softer stance on regulation.

Additionally, Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the creation of a sovereign wealth fund, with pro-crypto officials Scott Bessent and Howard Lutnick among those managing it.

Speculation is growing that this fund could include Bitcoin as part of its portfolio.

Meanwhile, David Sacks, White House “crypto czar,” suggested the U.S. is looking to integrate stablecoins into the financial system, aiming to strengthen the dollar’s dominance internationally and digitally.

The JPMorgan survey, conducted from Jan. 9 to 23, polled 4,200 institutional clients across 60 locations worldwide.

The survey comes amid growing interest in a Bitcoin reserve among U.S. states.

As reported, an Ohio state senator has recently introduced a second bill aimed at creating a Bitcoin reserve fund, positioning the state as a leader in cryptocurrency adoption.

Previously, New Hampshire and North Dakota introduced legislation to establish strategic Bitcoin reserves, marking a growing trend among U.S. states to diversify their treasuries with cryptocurrency.