Crypto companies are stepping into traditional finance territory, blending digital assets with conventional investment products to meet growing investor demand.
Bridging the Gap Between Crypto and Traditional Finance
Cryptocurrency firms and centralized exchanges are increasingly offering traditional investment options, signaling a growing synergy between the digital asset sector and Wall Street. Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget — the sixth-largest crypto exchange — explained that investors today want more flexibility from a single platform, leading to a blurring of lines between traditional finance (TradFi) and crypto.
“There’s a growing synergy between traditional financial investments and the emerging crypto space,” Chen shared in a recent interview. She added, “In a volatile market, integration is smarter than isolation.”
This movement highlights a broader trend: crypto companies are now viewing TradFi not just as a competitor but as an opportunity to drive mainstream adoption. Some firms see traditional finance as a safety net, while others, like Bitget, consider it a launchpad for expanding crypto’s reach.
The push toward integration coincides with a major shift in investor sentiment. For the first time since January 2025, market sentiment has moved from “fear” to “neutral,” buoyed by President Donald Trump’s softened stance on Chinese tariffs, which eased global economic tensions.
New Institutional Crypto Fund Mimics Traditional Index Strategies
Adding momentum to the trend, tokenization platform Securitize and decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol Mantle have partnered to launch a new institutional fund. The Mantle Index Four (MI4) Fund aims to provide yield on a diverse basket of cryptocurrencies, offering investors a product similar to a traditional index fund.
According to Securitize’s April 24 announcement, the MI4 Fund includes exposure to Bitcoin, stablecoins pegged to the U.S. dollar, and liquid staking tokens such as Mantle’s mETH, Bybit’s bbSOL, and Ethena’s USDe. The integration of on-chain yield strategies aims to enhance returns for investors.
Retail and institutional demand for crypto exposure, especially in assets like Bitcoin, continues to grow amid persistent macroeconomic uncertainties.
Mantra CEO Commits to Major Token Burn
Meanwhile, in another notable development, Mantra founder and CEO John Patrick Mullin has begun the process of burning 150 million Mantra (OM) tokens. On April 21, Mantra announced that Mullin’s tokens were being unstaked and would be sent to a burn address by April 29, permanently reducing the token’s circulating supply.
This move is designed to boost Mantra’s value by tightening its available supply, reflecting a broader trend where crypto projects are taking proactive steps to manage tokenomics and build investor confidence.
