The year 2024 has marked a pivotal shift in the cryptocurrency industry, characterized by a notable increase in institutional participation. Exchanges have reported significant rises in average Bitcoin and USDT deposits, with Bitcoin deposits increasing from 0.36 BTC in 2023 to 1.65 BTC, and USDT deposits surging from $19.6k to $230k. This trend underscores a growing interest from professional and corporate investors, distinguishing institutional activity from retail trading.
Binance has emerged as a leader in this institutional growth, reporting the largest increase in average Bitcoin deposits among major exchanges. The platform's institutional business expanded by 40%, with average daily Bitcoin deposits rising by 2.77 BTC. In USDT, Binance and Bitfinex recorded substantial gains, with Binance's total USDT reserves reaching an all-time high of $23 billion.
These developments highlight a surge in institutional funds, reflecting increased confidence in the cryptocurrency sector. Improved regulatory clarity, robust infrastructure, and enhanced risk management frameworks have further solidified crypto's role as a maturing financial asset class.