{"id":94694,"date":"2026-02-25T17:32:48","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T14:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/?p=94694"},"modified":"2026-02-25T17:36:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T14:36:50","slug":"river-reports-record-surge-in-bitcoin-adoption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/river-reports-record-surge-in-bitcoin-adoption\/","title":{"rendered":"River reports record surge in bitcoin adoption"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Adoption of the first cryptocurrency by institutional banks, public companies and governments \u201cexploded\u201d in 2025, according to River analysts.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"zxx\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/XKXwVbyqiy\">https:\/\/t.co\/XKXwVbyqiy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 River (@River) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/River\/status\/2026322299595432323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>They said there is \u201cno bear phase\u201d in bitcoin\u2019s adoption cycle. Despite a near-50% drop from the all-time high, adoption is accelerating\u2014though prices have yet to reflect it.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cTrust in bitcoin is growing faster than in any other asset in history. The experiment has turned into a globally recognised store of value, and its adoption dynamics are comparable to the internet,\u201d the experts stressed.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The big buyers<\/h2>\n<p>According to River, institutional investors amassed 829,000 BTC last year. They include businesses, governments, funds and <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-is-a-cryptocurrency-etf\">ETFs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-281a3f40865b0787-7246067065094596-1024x576.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-275795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-281a3f40865b0787-7246067065094596-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-281a3f40865b0787-7246067065094596-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-281a3f40865b0787-7246067065094596-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-281a3f40865b0787-7246067065094596.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: X\/River.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Registered <span data-descr=\"professional participants in the securities market (legal entities or sole proprietors) who give clients personal recommendations on buying\/selling securities and build investment portfolios\" class=\"old_tooltip\">investment advisers<\/span> had been buying bitcoin for two years, allocating about $1.5bn per quarter to spot crypto-based structures. This gave millions of retail clients access to the asset via brokerage accounts and retirement plans.<\/p>\n<p>Roughly 60% of leading US banks also joined efforts to develop products geared to digital gold.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"908\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-eb848ec3393c6df4-7246101020861641-908x1024.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-275796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-eb848ec3393c6df4-7246101020861641-908x1024.png 908w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-eb848ec3393c6df4-7246101020861641-266x300.png 266w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-eb848ec3393c6df4-7246101020861641-768x866.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-eb848ec3393c6df4-7246101020861641-1362x1536.png 1362w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-eb848ec3393c6df4-7246101020861641.png 1434w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 908px) 100vw, 908px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: X\/River.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cThanks to a favourable regulatory environment in the United States, banks can now custody cryptocurrency and offer bitcoin products to their clients,\u201d River said.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Corporations were the prime buyers of the crypto market\u2019s flagship in 2025. Demand was led by <span data-descr=\"companies with cryptoassets on their balance sheet\" class=\"old_tooltip\">DAT<\/span> companies: their number rose 2.5-fold over the year.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Payments<\/h2>\n<p>The number of US firms accepting bitcoin payments tripled. Global usage jumped 74%. Firms such as Steak \u2018n Shake <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/burger-chain-reports-revenue-surge-following-bitcoin-strategy-adoption\">proved in practice<\/a> that crypto payments cut transaction costs and improve financial performance.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e74ce809badbc3e8-7246125239748123-1024x576.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-275797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e74ce809badbc3e8-7246125239748123-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e74ce809badbc3e8-7246125239748123-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e74ce809badbc3e8-7246125239748123-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e74ce809badbc3e8-7246125239748123-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-e74ce809badbc3e8-7246125239748123.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: X\/River.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Transactions over the <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/lightning-network-faster-cheaper-bitcoin-transactions\">Lightning Network<\/a> rose 300% year-on-year. River estimates the network now processes more than $1.1bn a month.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">States<\/h2>\n<p>In 2025 another five countries became bitcoin holders. They include:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>two sovereign funds from Luxembourg and Saudi Arabia;<\/li>\n<li>the <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/czech-central-bank-establishes-1-million-test-crypto-portfolio\">Czech central bank<\/a>;<\/li>\n<li>Brazil;<\/li>\n<li>Taiwan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-8b1fd954b89eb1be-7246140631668177-1024x576.png\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-275798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-8b1fd954b89eb1be-7246140631668177-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-8b1fd954b89eb1be-7246140631668177-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-8b1fd954b89eb1be-7246140631668177-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-8b1fd954b89eb1be-7246140631668177.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: X\/River.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cThese states accumulate bitcoin in various ways: through state mining, purchases of bitcoin and ETFs, donations, confiscations and even hacks,\u201d River explained.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Falling volatility<\/h2>\n<p>Bitcoin\u2019s volatility has approached that of gold and the S&amp;P 500, analysts say. That signals a maturing asset and lowers the bar for conservative investors.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cThe latest bull market is the best proof: in three years the first cryptocurrency attracted more investment than in all its prior history,\u201d they emphasised.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Last year the asset showed weak price action, but the adoption trend says otherwise. This is not about \u201ctenfold overnight\u201d jumps\u2014the current wave of adoption is far deeper and more consequential, River noted.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cWith each passing year, confidence in bitcoin from individuals, businesses, institutional investors and states only strengthens. [\u2026] In the coming years we expect not just continuation but a real acceleration of this trend,\u201d the specialists concluded.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In January 2025, BlackRock <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/blackrock-says-bitcoin-adoption-outpaces-the-internet-and-mobile-phones\">said<\/a> that since bitcoin\u2019s launch in 2009, its pace of adoption has outstripped that of the internet and mobile phones.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Adoption of bitcoin by institutional banks, public companies and governments \u201cexploded\u201d in 2025, River said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":94695,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"select":"1","news_style_id":"1","cryptorium_level":"","_short_excerpt_text":"River reports a record surge in bitcoin adoption across banks, corporates and states in 2025.","creation_source":"","_metatest_mainpost_news_update":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[18,167],"class_list":["post-94694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-analysis","tag-bitcoin","tag-research"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"views":"192","promo_type":"1","layout_type":"1","short_excerpt":"River reports a record surge in bitcoin adoption across banks, corporates and states in 2025.","is_update":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94694"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94694\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":94696,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94694\/revisions\/94696"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}