Bitwise Chief Sees Mass Bank Crypto Adoption Within 6 Months

Alexey Bondarev
Alexey BondarevFeb, 12 2026 9:19
Bitwise CEO forecasts majority of financial institutions entering crypto within six months (Image: Shutterstock)
Bitwise CEO forecasts majority of financial institutions entering crypto within six months (Image: Shutterstock)

Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley predicts that two-thirds of global financial institutions will enter crypto within the next six months, citing direct conversations with top banking executives as the basis for his forecast.

What Happened: Bitwise CEO's Adoption Forecast

In an appearance on the Talking Tokens podcast, Horsley said he expects 66% of all financial institutions to begin utilizing digital assets in the near term. He based the prediction on personal discussions with bank CEOs, presidents and chairmen.

"I've spoken with a number of CEOs and presidents and a few chairmen of banks and I think it's all happening right now," Horsley said. "I think two-thirds of all financial institutions will be in crypto in the next six months."

The Bitwise co-founder added that more than half of all financial technology companies would also move into the space. He described the broader trend as the industry "getting wired-up connected," pointing to what he sees as crypto's path toward mainstream adoption as a store of value and asset class used by billions of people.

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Why It Matters: Institutional Shift Accelerating

Horsley argued that having hundreds of major corporations and financial institutions enter the crypto market — and bring the asset class to their existing customer bases — would represent a fundamental shift. He characterized the moment as crypto "putting a dent in the universe and really becoming something that's ubiquitous and permanent."

The prediction is notable given Bitwise's position as one of the largest crypto index fund managers, though it remains to be seen whether traditional finance moves at the pace Horsley describes.

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Alexey Bondarev

Alexey Bondarev is the Head of Content at Yellow.com, having reported on crypto for the last 10 years. He specializes in in-depth Research and Learn pieces, with a focus on analytical reporting, industry context, and the bigger forces shaping crypto, from the AI era and security technologies to fintech innovation. He believes that everything digital will imminently overcome everything analogue and is working hard to make that come true.

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Bitwise Chief Sees Mass Bank Crypto Adoption Within 6 Months | Yellow