Bakkt, Galaxy Digital link up to offer bitcoin services to institutional investors

Bakkt and Galaxy Digital have jointly created a new service directed at institutional investors looking to buy and store bitcoin (BTC).

Calling it a collaborative "white-glove" service, the two companies said they would handle the entire process of onboarding, trade execution, and storage of digital assets for institutional investors.

"We designed this partnership to service the uptick in demand our two firms have received from traditional asset managers seeking access to physical bitcoin," said Tim Plakas, head of sales at Galaxy Digital Trading.

THE SCOOP

Keep up with the latest news, trends, charts and views on crypto and DeFi with a new biweekly newsletter from The Block's Frank Chaparro

By signing-up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
By signing-up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Indeed, a recent Fidelity survey of 800 institutional investors found that nearly 80% of them are interested in digital assets. Last month, macro investor and hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones also made a strong case for buying bitcoin, saying that it can work as a hedge against inflation.

A recent uptick in bitcoin derivatives markets also suggests that more institutional investors are joining the space. The Fidelity survey found that the percentage of U.S. investors with exposure to crypto futures increased to 22% in 2020 from 9% in 2019.

Galaxy Digital and Bakkt look to jointly serve institutions, such as traditional finance asset managers and hedge funds. Galaxy Digital's trading unit saw more than $1 billion of volume in the first quarter of 2020, while Bakkt has onboarded more than 70 firms to date for its custody business.

About Author

Yogita Khatri is a senior reporter at The Block, covering all things crypto. As one of the earliest team members, Yogita has played a pivotal role in breaking numerous stories, exclusives and scoops. With nearly 3,000 articles under her belt, Yogita holds the records as The Block's most-published and most-read author of all time. Prior to joining The Block, Yogita worked at crypto publication CoinDesk and The Economic Times, where she wrote on personal finance. To contact her, email: [email protected]. For her latest work, follow her on X @Yogita_Khatri5.