Institutional traders have just reached a historic milestone on Bitget, one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world. With 80% of the total volume now in their hands, this trend raises the question: a sign of maturity or risk of centralization? Deciphering the figures and the issues for the market.
In brief
- Institutional traders now represent 80% of Bitget volume, marking a historic shift in the crypto market.
- This development raises the question: good news for stability and liquidity, or a risk of centralization?
- Bitcoin remains the flagship asset of this trend, with projections of $120,000 by the end of 2025, driven by ETFs.
Bitget: 80% of volume now comes from institutional funds
In September 2025, institutional traders accounted for 80% of Bitget's total volume, compared to just 39.4% in January. A dazzling increase, particularly on the spot (72.6%) and futures (56.6%) markets. The exchange's average monthly volume reached $750 billion, with 90% of that volume concentrated in derivatives.
This growth can be explained by the quality of Bitget's liquidity, now comparable to that of Binance or OKX. Professional tools, optimized execution and order book depth attract institutional funds. According to the Nansen reportliquidity has become the beating heart of the crypto market, a decisive criterion for professional traders.
Bitget is not alone in this race. Binance, OKX and Crypto.com are competing to attract these players, transforming the exchange landscape into an institutional playing field.
Institutional investors are invading crypto… Good news or bad news?
The arrival of institutional players marks a turning point for the crypto ecosystem. As Ryan Lee, chief analyst at Bitget, explains:
Recent flows show a collapse in inflows from small wallets (less than 0.1 BTC), while spot ETFs and self-custody models capture attention. This structural transition, where individual participation fades in favor of off-exchange and long-term accumulation, directly benefits Bitget. As the Universal Exchange (UEX), we integrate on-chain meme assets, blue chips, and equity-to-crypto contracts to meet both native innovation and institutional strategies.
This change brings major advantages:
- Increased stability;
- Strengthened liquidity;
- Legitimacy for a market once perceived as speculative.
In addition, funds like Laser Digital or Fenbushi Capital see this as an opportunity to diversify their portfolios, combining the security of large caps (BTC, ETH) and the growth potential of emerging assets. Yet risks persist. The concentration of power in a few hands could increase volatility in the event of a mass withdrawal, as the collapse of Terra in 2022 showed.
What is the preferred crypto of institutional investors?
Bitcoin is clearly establishing itself as the preferred crypto for institutional investors, and the figures speak for themselves. Indeed, Bitcoin ETFs have seen net inflows of $21.5 billion since the start of 2025, with daily peaks exceeding $1.2 billion in October. BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) fund, for example, now manages more than $86 billion in assets, confirming the enthusiasm of large investors.
With $103,840 on the clock today, if the current trend continues, bitcoin could test $120,000 by the end of 2025. driven by the expansion of ETFs, clearer regulation, and sustained institutional demand. However, a bearish scenario is not excluded, with a possible decline towards $90,000 in the event of a macroeconomic crisis or sudden withdrawal of funds.
Institutional investors have taken control of Bitget, transforming the crypto market. While this trend brings stability and liquidity, it also raises questions about decentralization. And you, do you think that this institutional domination is a good thing for the future of crypto?
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