PARTNER CONTENT
Trusted by thousands of institutions, and with £100bn of assets on the platform, BitGo delivers battle-tested secure wallets, an intuitive user experience, and support for over thousands of digital assets – all on a single, trusted platform. Brett Reeves outlines what sets the firm apart and how it is responding to current challenges and opportunities…
Please describe your firm’s service offering and what makes it special.?
BitGo is the leading digital asset infrastructure provider, offering secure, regulated custody and wallet solutions for 1,300+ tokens across 50+ chains. Since 2013, we’ve served global institutions with integrated staking, trading, financing, and settlement services from regulated cold storage in seven countries
What economic forces – in Europe and/or globally – do you anticipate having the biggest impact on your business over the next 12 months?
Over the next 12 months, we anticipate several global and regional economic forces will significantly influence our business and the broader digital asset ecosystem.
Most notably, the evolving regulatory landscape in the United States — with the introduction of the CLARITY and GENIUS Acts — signals a decisive shift toward legal certainty and institutional acceptance of digital assets. These legislative efforts provide clearer frameworks for token classification, custody standards, and investor protections, which we believe will catalyze greater participation by traditional financial institutions. As a regulated custodian, BitGo is well-positioned to support this influx by offering secure and compliant infrastructure.
Globally, macroeconomic volatility continues to reshape capital allocation strategies. The ongoing expansion of global money supply has contributed to persistent concerns about fiat currency devaluation. In response, institutional appetite for alternative stores of value, such as gold and increasingly Bitcoin, is growing. We are witnessing renewed interest in digital asset custody and treasury strategies from asset managers, corporates, and sovereign entities seeking diversification and long-term resilience.
In Europe, the implementation of MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) will further standardize digital asset compliance across member states, enhancing cross-border efficiency and increasing institutional confidence in European crypto markets.
Finally, geopolitical uncertainty, inflationary pressures, and the demand for 24/7 global settlement continue to drive structural demand for blockchain-based financial infrastructure. BitGo’s global cold storage footprint, regulatory alignment, and integrated services enable us to meet this demand securely and at scale.
What has been the most significant change you’ve observed in the global crypto industry in the past 12 months?
The most significant change we’ve observed in the global crypto industry over the past 12 months is the decisive shift in regulatory posture and institutional alignment – particularly in the United States. The bipartisan introduction of the CLARITY and GENIUS Acts, alongside the release of the U.S. President’s Digital Asset Report in July, marks a 180-degree turn from prior uncertainty to constructive engagement. This transformation is laying the foundation for responsible innovation and long-term infrastructure investment.
Simultaneously, the rapid growth in stablecoin adoption has been profound. With stablecoins now facilitating over $10 trillion in annual on-chain volume, their role in cross-border payments, settlements, and decentralized finance is expanding. We’re also seeing real momentum in the tokenization of real-world assets—particularly securities and short-term debt instruments—offering 24/7 trading, programmable compliance, and faster settlement cycles. Looking ahead, we expect issuers to bypass traditional rails altogether, opting instead to natively issue financial products on-chain.
Globally, adoption of digital assets continues to rise. According to industry data, the number of crypto users has grown by over 34% year-over-year, with global wallet ownership exceeding 580 million users. Notably, the average age of wallet holders has trended downward, now sitting in the 25–40 demographic, reflecting a generational shift in financial behavior and digital asset literacy.
Together, these changes underscore the maturing of the industry—from speculative markets to integrated financial infrastructure. BitGo remains at the forefront, building the secure, regulated foundation needed to support this next wave of global adoption.
Which are the most significant challenges facing the industry currently and what role can technology play in helping private markets professionals – in the front and/or back office – manage them?
One of the most pressing challenges facing the industry today is the knowledge and adoption gap between traditional finance and the rapidly evolving digital asset ecosystem. Many private markets professionals continue to operate within legacy architectures that were not designed for the speed, programmability, and transparency enabled by blockchain technology. Change is difficult—particularly in highly regulated environments—but it is both necessary and inevitable.
Over the past decade, foundational infrastructure has been laid by firms like BitGo to support this transition. As a regulated custodian and technology partner, we are not only helping to secure assets but also to educate and onboard institutions. By bridging the gap in understanding, we can help firms modernize their offerings to meet the evolving demands of their clients—particularly those seeking faster, more transparent, and globally accessible financial services.
Another significant challenge is collateral optimization in trading and financing operations. Historically, wide spreads have provided room for inefficiencies in collateral management. But as markets mature and spreads compress, the need for high-velocity, yield-bearing collateral—such as tokenized securities and stablecoins – becomes critical. We’re seeing growing demand for these instruments to be used both as collateral and for near-instant settlement across venues.
BitGo is already enabling this transition. Our platform supports the secure custody and movement of tokenized assets and yield-generating stablecoins, empowering institutions to flip between collateral types in real-time, all within a regulated and compliant framework. This ability is especially valuable for private markets professionals managing complex financing and settlement cycles.
In short, technology is no longer just a back-office upgrade—it is a strategic enabler. Firms that embrace it will unlock efficiencies, manage risk more effectively, and stay competitive in an increasingly digital financial landscape.
Are there ongoing or planned regulatory shifts for crypto firms to be mindful of?
Yes, there are several ongoing and planned regulatory developments globally that crypto firms must closely monitor. These shifts are laying the groundwork for a more mature and integrated digital asset ecosystem.
As previously mentioned, in the United States, the proposed GENIUS and CLARITY Acts represent a landmark step toward defining digital asset classifications, custodial standards, and operational boundaries. Combined with strategic guidance from the President’s Digital Asset Framework, this signals a strong regulatory intent to create a more transparent, investor-protected environment. We anticipate these efforts will catalyze deeper institutional involvement and product innovation.
In Europe, we expect MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) to evolve as, particularly as member states integrate it into national law. Additionally, elements of MiFID II are beginning to crystallize around digital asset categorization and distribution, which will further support institutional adoption. The FCA in the UK is also progressing toward a more comprehensive framework, and we anticipate growing regulatory alignment with the U.S. as transatlantic policy dialogue deepens.
In the Middle East, VARA (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority) in Dubai has taken a progressive and business-friendly stance, attracting both startups and major institutional players. We expect continued regional growth as other jurisdictions across the GCC adopt similar strategies.
In Asia-Pacific, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) are leading efforts to establish high-integrity crypto frameworks. Both jurisdictions are developing strong licensing regimes that balance innovation with consumer protection, making them attractive hubs for institutional digital asset activity.
Overall, the global regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly. As more jurisdictions move from consultation to implementation, we expect greater clarity, consistency, and cross-border cooperation. This progress will not only reduce compliance uncertainty but also accelerate institutional adoption by providing the legal certainty firms require to scale digital asset operations responsibly.
BitGo is committed to remaining at the forefront of this regulatory evolution, providing our clients with infrastructure that is compliant, secure, and future-ready.
Brett Reeves, Head of European Sales and Go Network, BitGo – Brett joined the firm in May 2024 and has since then overseen the expansion of BitGo’s presence in Europe, which includes onboarding new clients and partners and expanding the volume and scope of business across multiple jurisdictions within the European Union and UK. Brett has twenty years’ experience in the financial services industry having worked at Citibank, Nomura and Standard Chartered Bank. His background includes working within Prime Brokerage and OTC teams within the FX and interest rates markets. Most recently Brett was the Head of Business Development at the Bequant, a regulated digital asset Prime Broker.
