Even as the FTX collapse sent shockwaves through the crypto world, institutional investors aren’t backing away—they’re doubling down. Data from Bitstamp, a major cryptocurrency exchange, shows a surprising 57% spike in institutional registrations on its platform in November compared to October, right when the FTX saga was dominating headlines. It’s a bold move that flies in the face of the market’s gloomy mood.
Retail traders are jumping in too. Bitstamp reported a 43% rise in active international retail customers and an 18% uptick in U.S. users over the same period, despite the chaos. The exchange’s bottom line tells the story: total revenue climbed 45%, with institutional clients boosting income by 34% and retail traders driving a whopping 72% surge. Clearly, the FTX mess didn’t scare everyone off—some saw it as a chance to get in the game.
Bitcoin analyst Willy Woo weighed in on X, noting that big-money players still see crypto as a winner. He argued that traditional finance types view the FTX crash as a buying opportunity, believing the industry’s here to stay and now “de-risked” after the shakeout.
After the FTX blow up many think it’s set the industry back many years, but this is contrary to the conversations I’ve had. TradFi capital allocators are seeing an opportunity to come in now. They see #Bitcoin and crypto is here to stay and it’s now been de-risked.
— Willy Woo (@woonomic) December 6, 2022
Goldman Sachs is one of those players making moves. On December 6, the financial giant signaled plans to scoop up or invest in crypto firms while prices are down. Mathew McDermott, Goldman’s digital assets chief, said they’re already doing their homework, hunting for bargains in a battered market. He brushed off FTX’s high-profile flop, pointing out that the tech powering crypto keeps humming along just fine. It’s a sign that, for some heavy hitters, the dip is less a disaster and more a doorway.
While FTX’s collapse trashed crypto’s rep for many, Bitstamp’s numbers and Goldman’s appetite show a different side: a crowd of investors—big and small—betting the market’s got plenty of life left.
