Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, has made its first move into crypto by investing \$1.08 million in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT), according to a May 20 SEC filing. As of March 31, it held 23,094 IBIT shares within its \$2.63 billion Alternative Multi-Strategy Fund. The firm also purchased 9,889 shares of the ProShares Bitcoin ETF and 4,300 shares of Bitcoin Depot Inc. Despite CEO Steve Schwarzman’s past skepticism about crypto, Blackstone’s small step into the space comes as BlackRock’s IBIT continues its strong momentum, with over \$46.1 billion in net inflows since launching in January 2024 and no outflows since April 9.

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JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, despite his long-standing criticism of Bitcoin, announced on May 19 that the bank will soon let clients buy the cryptocurrency—though it won’t offer custody services, only include it in client statements. While Dimon reiterated his skepticism, citing concerns over crime and money laundering, CNBC reported that JPMorgan will provide access to Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), marking a shift from its previous focus on futures-based crypto products. This move follows similar steps by Morgan Stanley and comes as spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. have attracted nearly \$42 billion in inflows since January 2024.

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Jason Guthrie, head of product at WisdomTree, believes the crypto market has matured and become more sustainable despite the absence of hype-driven trends like ICOs, NFTs, or DeFi lending that defined previous cycles. Speaking at Consensus, Guthrie noted that companies are steadily growing in revenue and innovation without relying on speculative fads, and that the market’s resilience—despite some memecoin activity and a lack of a clear breakout use case—is a strong indicator of its long-term potential. He emphasized that while it's still early days with much innovation ahead, the current cycle shows signs of a more grounded and value-driven ecosystem.

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Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has made its second-largest Bitcoin purchase, acquiring 1,004 BTC for ¥15.2 billion (\$104.6 million), bringing its total holdings to 7,800 BTC—worth about \$807 million. This move comes just days after its May 12 buy of 1,241 BTC, positioning Metaplanet as the public company with the largest Bitcoin stash in Asia and the tenth-largest globally. With 2,800 BTC acquired in May alone, the firm has aggressively expanded its crypto portfolio, trailing just behind Galaxy Digital. Meanwhile, Michael Saylor, whose firm Strategy leads all corporates with 568,840 BTC, hinted at another buy amid record corporate accumulation of Bitcoin in 2025.

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A recent Binance report based on a survey of nearly 30,000 users across Asia reveals that while crypto holders are increasingly adopting basic security measures—like 2FA (80.5%) and address double-checking (73.3%)—more advanced protections such as anti-phishing codes (21.5%) and address whitelisting (17.6%) remain underused. Concerningly, over a third still store private keys on internet-connected devices, especially in Southeast Asia. Despite these gaps, 84% of users trust exchange safeguards like Binance’s SAFU fund, and many see exchanges as security partners, prioritizing real-time threat interception, biometric login, and educational tools. The report highlights that true safety requires shared responsibility between users and platforms, as the industry sees progress with illicit crypto activity dropping to 0.14% of transactions in 2024.

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Tether has purchased \$458.7 million worth of Bitcoin—4,812.2 BTC at \$95,319 each—for Twenty One Capital, a Bitcoin investment firm it backs that is preparing to go public via a SPAC merger with Cantor Equity Partners. The acquisition, disclosed in a May 13 SEC filing, brings Twenty One’s total holdings to 36,312 BTC, making it the third-largest corporate Bitcoin holder behind Strategy and MARA Holdings. Supported by major investors like Bitfinex, SoftBank, and Cantor Fitzgerald, Twenty One aims to surpass Strategy as the premier Bitcoin investment vehicle, focusing on Bitcoin per share rather than earnings. The company targets 42,000 BTC at launch, with holdings converting into equity at \$10 per share.

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Corporations have become the largest net buyers of Bitcoin in 2025, surpassing ETFs and retail investors, with firms like Michael Saylor’s Strategy leading the charge—accounting for 77% of the 157,000 BTC (\$16B) added by businesses this year, according to River. The surge includes notable purchases by Metaplanet and newcomers like Rumble and firms from Hong Kong. Finance and tech companies are the top buyers, and public firms overall increased their holdings by 16% in Q1. Analysts say corporate demand is now outpacing miner supply, creating deflationary pressure on Bitcoin’s already limited issuance.

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Bitcoin is consolidating after a sharp rally, hovering near \$104,000 as markets respond to news of a US-China trade deal that boosted stocks and the US dollar. Traders eye nearby liquidity levels around \$102,000 as potential action points, while a successful retest of the 50-week EMA at \$80,300 signals the potential for a new all-time high. Analysts note that this technical pattern has historically preceded major price surges, reinforcing a bullish outlook for BTC.

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Steak ‘n Shake has announced it will begin accepting Bitcoin at all locations starting May 16, marking a major step in mainstream crypto adoption. The fast food chain teased the move in March, gaining attention from Bitcoin supporters like Jack Dorsey, and has since ramped up Bitcoin-themed marketing. With this move, Steak ‘n Shake joins other fast food giants like Chipotle, Subway, and McDonald’s in embracing crypto payments, a trend that began with the historic 2010 Bitcoin Pizza Day when 10,000 BTC bought two pizzas.

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The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) confirmed that national banks and federal savings associations can trade cryptocurrencies on behalf of customers and outsource certain crypto activities, like custody and execution services, to third parties, provided they comply with relevant laws and risk management practices. Acting Comptroller Rodney Hood emphasized that banks can offer broader crypto custody services, including tax and reporting, and partner with sub-custodians. This move, part of a broader shift under the Trump administration to ease crypto restrictions, has been welcomed by the industry as a step toward clearer regulatory guidance and integration of digital assets into traditional banking.

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