FOMO by Big Investors May Support Bitcoin’s Polarizing Rally

  • Digital asset is luring institutions like asset managers
  • More strategists are covering Bitcoin to feed client interest
Photographer: Chritophe morin/Bloomberg
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The financial industry was something of a curious onlooker during Bitcoin’s furious, retail-led rally past $19,000 in 2017. There are signs the sector is playing more of role in the cryptocurrency’s latest surge.

Licensed crypto exchanges, Bitcoin funds and a regulated futures market give the likes of trend-following quant funds, asset managers and family offices avenues for investment that didn’t exist a few years ago. Mix in this year’s 170% jump in Bitcoin’s price amid a once-in-a-generation pandemic, and it becomes clearer why more institutions might size up the volatile asset.