Bitcoin Takes the Lead in Crypto Portfolios as Institutional Demand Surges
Bitcoin (BTC) has taken center stage in investor crypto portfolios, now accounting for 30.95% of total crypto assets held — up from 25.4% in November 2024 — according to a May 2025 report by Bybit.
This makes Bitcoin the largest single asset in cryptocurrency portfolios today, reflecting rising institutional appetite fueled by spot Bitcoin ETFs and a more favorable U.S. crypto regulatory climate.
Institutional Adoption Accelerates Bitcoin’s Growth
The shift is not just a market fluke — it’s backed by mounting corporate interest. According to BitcoinTreasuries.NET, the number of public and private companies holding BTC has nearly doubled, growing from 124 in early June to 244 by mid-June 2025.
In total, 3.45 million BTC are now held in treasuries:
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834,000 BTC (3.97% of supply) are in public company holdings
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1.39 million BTC (6.6%) are held via spot ETFs
This rapid institutional accumulation has reignited speculation around Bitcoin’s long-term valuation. Joe Burnett, director of market research at Unchained, predicts BTC could reach $1.8 million by 2035, paralleling gold’s $22 trillion market cap.
“When I think about where Bitcoin will be in 10 years, there are two models I admire,” said Burnett during a recent Chainreaction podcast. “One is the parallel model, which suggests Bitcoin will be about $1.8 million in 2035.”
Retail Investors Shift to Altcoins, Favor XRP over Solana
While institutions double down on Bitcoin, retail traders are pivoting away. Retail BTC holdings have dropped 37% since November 2024, now making up only 11.6% of total portfolios — less than half the institutional share.
Retail traders appear to be moving capital into altcoins with ETF potential, especially XRP, whose share of portfolios nearly doubled from 1.29% to 2.42% between November and May.
By contrast, Solana (SOL) has seen a steep decline in allocation, down from 2.72% to 1.76%, suggesting a capital rotation away from SOL due to lower perceived ETF approval odds.
“The crypto investing industry view is that Ripple spot ETF approval is likely ahead of such approval for Solana spot ETF,” the Bybit report explained.
Ethereum Struggles to Keep Pace
Ethereum’s (ETH) position has also weakened relative to Bitcoin. The ETH-to-BTC ratio fell to a 2025 low of 0.15 in April, meaning investors were holding just $1 in ETH for every $6.67 in BTC at the time. The ratio has since rebounded to 0.27, but remains well below previous levels.
Bitcoin Outperforms All Major Asset Classes
BTC continues to outperform traditional asset classes, including stocks, treasuries, and gold, particularly since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. That performance has further reinforced Bitcoin’s role as a high-return portfolio diversifier, according to Cointelegraph’s earlier reporting.
A New Institutional Crypto Era
From a rising portfolio share to its growing dominance in ETF markets, Bitcoin is solidifying its status as the preferred asset for long-term crypto exposure. Meanwhile, retail focus is turning toward altcoins like XRP, especially those with realistic ETF potential.
The result? A divided but dynamic crypto landscape, where institutional and retail strategies are diverging sharply in 2025.
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