Holders of cryptocurrencies are no longer satisfied by capital appreciation alone but increasingly seek income from staking and lending. Holders whose investment mandate, liquidity needs, operational capabilities and risk profile permit staking and lending should nevertheless proceed cautiously. While the risk of “slashing” is exaggerated, research into counterparty, custody and cyber-attack risks will earn rewards for institutional investors

Institutional asset and wealth managers and end-investors are increasingly active in the cryptocurrency markets. This is putting the banks that provide them with trade and post-trade services in the traditional markets under pressure to make it easy for buy-side institutions to access cryptocurrency markets, trade cryptocurrencies, settle cryptocurrency transactions and safekeep and service cryptocurrency assets in custody.