Bitcoin’s Price Plummets, But Wall Street Can’t Stop Loving It

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Well, well, well. Bitcoin (BTC) has gone on a little vacation, falling to $64,492 in February, almost 50% below its October highs. Someone call a therapist, because this is a rough patch.

But hey, price is just one part of the drama. According to River, Bitcoin’s adoption rate actually ramped up in 2025. Yes, you heard that right-while the price is spiraling, everyone from institutions to nation-states seems to be getting more cozy with it.

Is Bitcoin’s 50% Slump Just a Temporary Setback on Its Path to Glory?

According to BeInCrypto, the crypto market has officially entered the “extreme fear” zone. Retail investors are freaking out, with some even googling “Bitcoin going to zero” (good luck with that, folks).

And it’s not just the little guys who are feeling the pinch. Even the big institutional players are taking a breather. Crypto hedge funds, tired of the downhill ride, have resorted to holding cash like it’s going out of style.

“With Bitcoin and ETH continuing to slide, crypto hedge funds have retreated to cash. Their average cash levels are currently 15.32%, the highest in almost a year,” said Nic Puckrin, co-founder of Coin Bureau. Imagine that-cash, the old reliable.

But don’t get too comfortable with that “Bitcoin’s doomed” narrative. River’s recent market report reminds us that Bitcoin’s long-term adoption curve is still on the up. Take that, bear market!

“There is no bear market in bitcoin adoption. Bitcoin is down 50% from all-time highs, but adoption is compounding in ways that aren’t affecting the price, yet,” the post read. Yet. Oh, it’s coming.

In fact, River reports that institutions picked up about 829,000 BTC in 2025, including from businesses, governments, funds, and ETFs. And no, that’s not a typo.

Registered investment advisors (RIAs) were also busy, dumping close to $1.5 billion per quarter into Bitcoin ETFs for two straight years. Spoiler alert: no outflows. Everyone loves Bitcoin-at least when it’s not going down 50%.

Despite all this action, RIAs are barely dipping their toes in, with their average Bitcoin holdings coming to a whopping 0.008%. That’s some serious commitment, huh?

Investment advisors manage $146 trillion in assets.

Hmm, let’s see what these top 29 have in common…

– River (@River) February 24, 2026

Meanwhile, businesses are going all in. In 2025, they dropped $54 billion worth of Bitcoin onto their balance sheets. Bitcoin treasury companies now control 866,000 BTC, and the number of publicly listed firms with Bitcoin holdings has hit 194.

And guess what? Nation-states are joining the party too. Five countries, including Luxembourg and Saudi Arabia, decided to become Bitcoin holders in 2025. In total, 23 nations are now in the Bitcoin club.

“Trust in bitcoin has grown faster than that of any asset in history. What began as an experiment is now a globally recognized store-of-value, with adoption patterns that rival the internet,” River wrote. Um, okay, maybe Bitcoin is doing alright.

US Businesses Can’t Get Enough of Bitcoin Payments

And it’s not just about buying Bitcoin; people are using it! The number of US merchants accepting Bitcoin payments tripled last year. That’s a 300% increase. You know, just casual Bitcoin adoption.

Globally, usage surged by 74%. That’s a lot of people paying with Bitcoin, despite its little “price hiccup.”

And traditional finance isn’t slacking off either. Around 60% of the 25 largest US banks are currently working on Bitcoin-related products. Who says old-school finance isn’t getting with the times?

Now, River isn’t expecting Bitcoin to shoot up by 10x overnight because of this adoption. But, in their own words, this kind of steady integration could be way more significant in the long run. Just you wait.

Looking ahead, River predicts that adoption will continue to pick up steam. So, while the price may be down for now, Bitcoin’s global takeover is only just beginning.

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2026-02-25 12:01