River Report Says Institutional Bitcoin Adoption Surged in 2025
Bitcoin was once held mainly by retail investors and the crypto industry, but financial services company River said institutions, banks and governments accelerated their allocations in 2025. The trend suggests Bitcoin is shifting from a highly volatile trading asset toward a store of value recognized by Wall Street, with adoption no longer measured solely by short-term price moves.
River’s latest report showed that institutions had accumulated about 829,000 BTC as of 2025. Corporate and public-sector holdings continued to expand significantly despite Bitcoin’s recent price decline. The report highlighted a divergence between adoption metrics and price performance, with weaker market conditions failing to halt the entry of long-term capital.
All Coverage
2 original reportsThe Backstory
The history behind this eventBitcoin's Long-Term Adoption Continues to Expand, Six Indicators Show No Bear Market
Bitcoin has fallen about 50% from its all-time high, reviving concerns about a bear market. Financial services company River argues that price does not equate to adoption. Since U.S. spot ETFs launched in 2024, financial advisers, companies and banks have continued to build exposure, signaling Bitcoin's shift from a short-term speculative asset toward an institutionalized, long-term financial allocation.
Citing River data on Feb. 25, 2026, Chain News reported that institutions bought about 829,000 bitcoins in 2025, while financial advisers' ETF holdings rose from $2.6 billion to $12.5 billion. The number of listed companies holding Bitcoin increased to 194, and the Lightning Network's monthly transaction value climbed from about $12 million in 2021 to more than $1.1 billion in 2025.
Subscribe to Mark Radar Weekly
Every Friday, the week's strongest signals in your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.