Digital Assets Attracted Nearly Record Investment Inflows in 2025

Digital assets attracted significant investment inflows in 2025, with nearly record levels of capital entering the sector. Investors continued to show interest in cryptocurrencies and related financial products, even amid market volatility. The year saw a mix of outflows and inflows, with crypto ETFs and ETPs experiencing net outflows in November, marking the first monthly withdrawals of 2025.

Real-world assets (RWAs) played a key role in driving digital asset investment. Tokenized assets, including US Treasurys and commodities, saw distributed asset values surpass $19 billion by December 2025. This growth was partly fueled by tokenized fund products, like the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL).

Crypto wallet usage shifted from trading to spending during the year. Bitget Wallet data showed increased onchain activity for payments and stablecoin-based earning. The annual spending volume via crypto wallets grew 28-fold year-on-year, reflecting broader adoption in everyday financial activities.

Why Did This Happen?

Regulatory developments helped shape the investment landscape. A more relaxed regulatory environment under the second Trump administration made it easier for fintech and crypto firms to operate. Partnerships between major crypto platforms and traditional banks, such as Coinbase's deals with Citigroup and PNC, reflected this shift.

AI and infrastructure innovation also supported digital asset growth. KuCoin expanded its AI capabilities in 2025 with tools like KIA, its crypto-native AI assistant, and KuCoin Feed, an AI-powered market intelligence hub. These developments contributed to a more sophisticated and accessible platform.

Data centers became a strategic investment area, particularly in India. CapitaLand India Data Centre Fund acquired a 20.2% stake in three data centres, reflecting the importance of infrastructure in supporting digital asset activities.

How Did Markets React?

Market dynamics showed some fluctuations. Crypto ETFs recorded their first monthly outflows of 2025 in November, with net outflows reaching $2.95 billion. Despite this, the year still saw a 17.8% increase in total assets compared to the end of 2024.

Bitcoin and Ethereum-related products accounted for most of the outflows. Bitcoin-focused ETFs and ETPs saw $2.36 billion in net outflows, while Ethereum products recorded $1.36 billion in withdrawals. However, these two assets continued to lead in year-to-date inflows according to market data.

Smaller tokens like Solana gained modest traction, with Solana-linked products holding $1.38 billion in assets across nine products. Year-to-date inflows for Solana stood at $0.90 billion.

What Are Analysts Watching Next?

Analysts are closely monitoring the impact of token unlocks in January. More than $5.5 billion in cryptocurrencies are scheduled to unlock, with projects like ONDO, BGB, HYPE, and TRUMP accounting for some of the largest releases. These unlocks could influence price dynamics, particularly in thin markets according to market analysts.

Regulatory developments remain a key focus. Fintech and crypto firms continue to adapt to evolving rules, with a focus on compliance and security. For example, KuCoin obtained a MiCA license in the EU and secured AUSTRAC registration in Australia according to official filings.

Investor sentiment is also under scrutiny. While the broader market cooled, stablecoin-based earning and payment use cases continued to grow. This suggests a gradual decoupling between market sentiment and real-world crypto usage according to Bitget Wallet data.

The balance sheet strength of companies involved in digital asset infrastructure is another area of interest. Titan Mining, for instance, reduced its net debt by 60% in 2025, strengthening its financial position for graphite development.

Investors are also watching for further expansion of tokenized real-world assets. As liquidity and integration into traditional finance (TradFi) improve, RWAs could attract more institutional interest according to market analysis.

The performance of crypto platforms and wallets will also be key. Bitget Wallet reported significant growth in onchain trading and spending activity, highlighting the transition from trading to broader financial use cases according to recent reports.

The year's investment trends suggest that digital assets are becoming more integrated into the broader financial landscape. While challenges remain, the shift in investor behavior and regulatory environment positions the sector for continued evolution in the coming months.