Wintermute: Institutions Double Down on BTC and ETH, Retail Investors Turn to Meme Coins

July 15th, according to TheBlock, Wintermute released a new report stating that during the first half of 2025's bull market, there was a significant difference in investment strategies between retail investors and institutional investors, leading to a notable divergence in trading interests, which had largely been in sync for many years.

The report shows that institutional investors continue to double down on major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, while retail investors tend to favor meme coins and other altcoins. Institutions are seeking a stable investment exposure, whereas retail investors are chasing more novel, higher-risk opportunities. The gap between institutions and retail investors in the allocation of major cryptocurrencies has reached a record 30 percentage points. Institutional mainstream cryptocurrency investment allocation remains at 67%, primarily achieved through ETF inflows and other new accumulation tools, while retail investment allocation in major cryptocurrencies has decreased by 9% to 37%. Wintermute's CEO and Founder, Evgeny Gaevoy, stated in the report: "This divergence is not temporary; it indicates that we are experiencing a more mature, complex, and professionalized crypto market. Investors are no longer chasing the same trends. Institutions view cryptocurrency as a macro asset, while retail traders continue to be attracted by innovation." [BlockBeats News]