Binance bets on Aussie institutions to mature crypto

Binance Australia expects institutional trading and regulatory reforms to steer deeper integration of digital assets into mainstream finance in 2026, as the exchange passes 300 million registered users globally and reports growth in local institutional activity.

The company said the global digital asset sector has emerged from a year of consolidation. Executives described 2025 as a turning point that marked a shift from speculative trading towards longer-term participation and greater scrutiny from regulators.

Matt Poblocki, General Manager for Binance Australia and New Zealand, said the latest phase of user growth reflected a change in the nature of participation in crypto markets. “It took Binance nearly five years to amass its first 100 million users, then just over two years for the next 100 million, and only 18 months for the latest 100 million - a rate of over 180,000 new users joining each day,” said Poblocki.

“This accelerating participation aligns with crypto moving from speculation to consolidation. We saw users become more deliberate, institutions step in at scale, and regulators move from observing the market to actively shaping it. That combination has fundamentally changed the trajectory of the industry and laid a strong foundation for 2026,” said Poblocki.

Binance reported that periods of volatility during 2025 prompted many investors to rotate into established digital assets rather than exit the market. The company said this marked a shift from previous cycles that were dominated by short-term speculative flows.

Its 2025 User Pulse survey covered more than 95,000 users across 48 markets. Half of respondents identified themselves as long-term holders. The main stated motivations were portfolio diversification, the search for higher returns, and investing for future purchases such as a home. New users cited security, trust and asset protection as their top priorities.

Binance said it maintained a leading position in global liquidity and trading activity during 2025. Data provider Kaiko reported that Binance’s share of global Bitcoin and Ethereum trading volume remained between 35 per cent and 45 per cent through the year.

The company said average daily Bitcoin volumes on its platform ranged between USD $5 billion and USD $10 billion and peaked near USD $20 billion. It said Ethereum volumes regularly reached USD $15 billion. Binance reported that it now safeguards more than USD $170 billion in customer assets, based on its published Proof of Reserves.

In Australia, Binance said investors have shown behaviour similar to global users. The company pointed to broader local participation alongside a move towards large-cap crypto assets and more stable trading patterns.

Research by Protocol Theory, commissioned by Binance Australia, found that 26 per cent of Australians now own cryptocurrency. A further 32 per cent said they are open to investing in the future. As adoption has increased, Binance said trading activity has become more concentrated in established assets.

Bitcoin was the most traded cryptocurrency on Binance Australia in December. Ethereum and Solana followed. The top 10 traded assets on the platform remained largely unchanged through the year. Binance said this indicated a preference for assets that offer scale, liquidity and established networks.

“Australian investors showed a clear shift toward fundamentals this year,” said Poblocki. “Rather than chasing hype, they consolidated around credible, large-cap assets. That discipline is a strong signal of a maturing and informed local market.”

Binance expects 2026 to feature deeper connections between digital assets and the wider financial system. The company cited rising institutional engagement and a changing mix of Bitcoin holders as evidence of this trend.

It said Bitcoin held on exchanges has fallen to its lowest level in five years. Over the same period, holdings by public companies and exchange-traded funds have risen. More than 200 listed companies now hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets, according to Binance. The company said this shift may reduce volatility and soften extreme market cycles over time.

Binance reported a 14 per cent increase in institutional users on its platform over the past year. Institutional trading volumes rose 13 per cent over the same period. The company said it expects this momentum to continue in 2026 as corporate treasuries examine digital assets alongside traditional holdings.

Regulation remains central to Binance’s outlook. In Australia, the company pointed to proposed reforms under Treasury’s Digital Assets Bill. It also highlighted implementation of the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework, which will introduce new reporting and compliance obligations for platforms and investors.

Binance said these initiatives will set clearer parameters for market activity and reinforce an emphasis on compliance and real-world use. Executives see this as important for long-term growth of the domestic market and for closer links with global financial institutions.

The company also expects stablecoins to play a larger role in the coming year. It said global stablecoin market capitalisation now exceeds USD $300 billion. Use cases include payments, remittances and short-term value storage.

“Global and local regulatory progress is ensuring crypto is here to stay. In Australia, clearer regulations will help the wider industry strike the right balance between innovation and user protection,” said Poblocki.

“Ultimately, 2026 will be about moving beyond hype and speculation toward delivering real, scalable value. We believe that the crypto industry's next chapter is one of purposeful adoption, trust, and long-term impact. When innovation meets responsibility, that is when digital assets will become an integral part of everyday finance,” said Poblocki.