WebX2026 panel maps institutional crypto market entry, regulation and custody hurdles

Executives from Coinbase, BitGo and Circle outlined the market structure, custody, regulatory and regional conditions they see as necessary for broader institutional participation.

Summary

A WebX 2026 CRYL stage panel examined what it would take for institutions to enter crypto markets at full scale, with executives from Coinbase, BitGo and Circle Internet Group focusing on prime brokerage, regulatory fragmentation, custody risk, regional market development and the convergence of wholesale trading infrastructure. The discussion highlighted the need for fuller market-stack services, clearer rules across jurisdictions and stronger risk controls before larger pools of institutional capital move more deeply into digital assets. Speakers also pointed to Japan and South Korea as important markets to watch, while discussing how AI agent trading and the blending of crypto-native and traditional wholesale market structures could shape the next phase of market development.

Terms & Concepts
  • prime brokerage: A bundled service model that can include trading, financing, custody and other infrastructure used by institutional investors.
  • custody risk: The risk tied to how client assets are held, secured and accessed by custodians or service providers.
  • AI agent trading: The use of automated software agents to analyze markets and execute trading decisions.