For travelers bound for the Indonesian islands of Batam and Bintan, the journey from Singapore now begins with a touch of elevated retail luxury. The newly opened duty free store at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal […]
Bitcoin Magazine
Institutions Stay Bullish on Bitcoin as Retail Capitulates: Bitwise CIO Sees Crypto Rally Ahead
Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan says the crypto market may be nearing a turning point as retail exhaustion deepens and institutional demand quietly builds.
Appearing on CNBC, Hougan — who oversees $12 billion in assets at Bitwise — said retail sentiment is at “maximum desperation” following months of liquidations, leverage blowouts, and yield protocol failures.
“It’s hard to find a crypto native investor who still has much enthusiasm,” he said. “That market is close to a bottom.”
JUST IN: $12 billion Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan on CNBC: “I am optimistic that we are going to rally at the end of the year.”
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) November 5, 2025pic.twitter.com/QsEOKaeKBS
In contrast, Hougan noted that institutional investors remain upbeat.
“When I speak to financial advisors, they’re still excited to allocate to an asset class that’s delivered strong long-term returns,” he said, adding that he expects a year-end rally as institutional capital begins to take the lead.
“So I’m optimistic, but we do have to finish this wash out of retail sentiment,” Hougan said.
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Senator Cynthia Lummis reaffirmed her support for digital asset integration within the U.S. banking system.
Addressing tensions over stablecoin regulation, Lummis said she wants community banks to be able to custody and manage both fiat and digital assets.
“This is the 21st-century economy,” Lummis said on X. “Digital assets are the future, and we need to make sure community banks embrace the opportunity.”
She noted that Louisiana, Virginia, and Wyoming already allow banks to custody crypto — and expects more states to follow as new legislation advances.
Bitcoin and the broader crypto market has seen a turbulent month, dipping below $100,000 on Tuesday — its lowest level since June — before rebounding above $103,000 today.
The slide was driven by heavy selling pressure, nearly $1.8 billion in ETF outflows, and a stronger U.S. dollar following Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s hawkish tone, signaling that interest rates could stay higher for longer.
The sell-off traces back to October 10, when President Trump announced 100% tariffs and export controls on China, sparking a broad crypto liquidation. Bitcoin fell roughly 20–25% from early October highs, while altcoins like Ethereum and Solana dropped as much as 40%. Crypto-linked stocks, including MicroStrategy, Coinbase, and Robinhood, also slid.
Open interest in Bitcoin futures fell around 30%, reflecting a pullback from leveraged traders, and the crypto fear and greed index reached “extreme fear.”
But, as retail investors capitulate, Matt Hougan’s comments suggest institutional demand could soon take the lead in crypto accumulation.
This post Institutions Stay Bullish on Bitcoin as Retail Capitulates: Bitwise CIO Sees Crypto Rally Ahead first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.
The French government has initiated proceedings to suspend the online platform of Shein, the Chinese-founded fast-fashion giant, after prosecutors launched an investigation into the sale of childlike sex dolls on the company’s website. The move […]
Amazon this morning offered the first official glimpse of a new “store within a store” concept it’s testing to bring name-brand items to Whole Foods Market without sullying the grocer’s signature organic vibe.
The approach, first reported a few days ago by The Wall Street Journal, puts screens on the shelves that let shoppers scan a QR code to browse a wider Amazon selection in the app — picking items like Kraft Mac & Cheese, Tide Pods, or Pepsi for quick pickup at a nearby counter after they check out.
Behind the scenes, a 10,000-square-foot automated “micro-fulfillment center” inside the store uses robots to pull items from Amazon’s expanded inventory: popular snacks, cleaning supplies, frozen foods, personal care products, etc.
The system, built on technology from Silicon Valley startup Fulfil, prepares orders within minutes so they’re ready for customers by the time they finish shopping.
It’s one of the tightest integrations between Amazon and Whole Foods since the tech giant bought the grocer for $13.7 billion in 2017. Under Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel, who now oversees all of Amazon’s grocery stores, the company is looking to bring more of its tech expertise to a brand known for its strict ingredient standards and natural-foods identity.
Amazon has been trying to figure out the broader grocery business for 18 years, dating back to the original launch of Amazon Fresh delivery in the Seattle area in 2007. Thin margins and huge volumes make grocery one of the toughest and most tantalizing segments in retail.
The company has reported recent success with an initiative that offers perishable groceries for free same-day delivery as part of a unified cart when people check out on Amazon.com. CEO Andy Jassy called this approach a “game changer” on the company’s earnings call last week.
As part of its Whole Foods announcement this morning, Amazon confirmed that it’s testing the new concept at a store in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., and said for the first time that it plans to expand the approach to additional Whole Foods locations after gathering feedback.
It’s not the only concept currently in testing. The Wall Street Journal also reported on a separate trial in Chicago where Amazon replaced a coffee shop in the flagship Whole Foods’ lobby with a 3,800-square-foot “Amazon Grocery” kiosk to sell brands like Doritos and Chips Ahoy.
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