Global crypto market funds surge | Q4 inflows hit record high, with institutions and ETFs igniting a new bull market

1. Global capital hits record high: 2025 Q4 market full recovery

In the fourth quarter of 2025, the crypto market ushered in the strongest capital inflow since 2021. According to the latest report from CoinShares and Glassnode , as of the end of September, the total capital inflow into the global crypto asset market has exceeded US$9.86 billion , a year-on-year increase of 143% and a month-on-month increase of 78% , setting a quarterly record since the birth of Bitcoin.

📈Key data highlights:

Market analysts believe that this influx of funds marks the end of the "crypto winter " and that the market has entered a new cycle of "infrastructure-driven + institution-led".

2. Institutional investors become the main force: Wall Street enters the market

The core driving force behind this surge in funding comes from institutional investors and ETF products . The collective entry of traditional financial giants has made crypto assets no longer just "speculative tools" but part of investment assets .

📊Major institutional funding trends (2025 Q4):

🔎Trend Interpretation:

• The " Bitcoin Spot ETF " in the US market has become the core entry point for institutional funds;

• The Asian market prefers " compliant exchange equity + RWA (real asset tokenization) ";

• " Smart infrastructure investment " that combines AI and encryption has become a new growth point.

3. Fund Distribution: BTC and ETH Dominate, AI and Layer 2 Become Dark Horses

The capital inflow structure this quarter showed a significant sectoral trend:

📊Analyst Comments:

"The market has shifted from an early 'single-coin-driven bull run' to a 'multi-track, multi-narrative resonance'. Layer 2 and AI contracts, in particular, will become the most noteworthy investment directions in 2026."
—Jason Wu, Chief Analyst at CryptoQuant

IV. Regional landscape: Asia becomes a new engine of capital

The geographical distribution of capital inflows has also shifted significantly. For the first time, the Asian market surpassed Europe to become the world's second-largest source of capital , demonstrating the strong appeal of its regulatory-friendly and open compliance policies.

📍 It is worth noting that regulatory agencies such as the Hong Kong SFC, Abu Dhabi ADGM, and Singapore MAS are attracting institutional funds through rapid license approval, ETF opening, RWA framework, etc. "Compliance-friendly market" is becoming the core judgment criterion for global capital flows .

5. Outlook for 2026: A new cycle may have begun

The market generally believes that the massive influx of funds in Q4 2025 may be the prelude to a new round of crypto bull market . Analysts and forecasts from institutions such as Coinbase, Galaxy Digital, and HashKey are as follows:

📊Summary of views:

• Institutions and ETFs will continue to be the main drivers;

• New narratives such as RWA, AI, and Layer 2 will drive a new round of growth;

• The compliance-friendly market will attract more traditional capital.

📌 Conclusion: From speculation to allocation, the crypto market has entered the "mature capital era"

The capital inflow in Q4 2025 is not only a numerical breakthrough, but also a signal of structural transformation of the entire industry.
The market is evolving from one dominated by speculative retail investors to a new stage driven by institutions, dominated by compliance, and globally capitalized .

The next 12 months will determine whether the entire crypto industry truly enters the core layer of " global financial infrastructure ." For investors, this is both the starting point of a new bull market and a critical moment for strategic planning.