What Wall Street Sees in Crypto That Retail Is Missing? 21Shares’s Eliézer Ndinga Explains

In this episode of Voice of Web3, CoinGape’s Sunil Sharma speaks with Eliézer Ndinga about why institutional interest in crypto continues to grow even as retail sentiment remains subdued. The conversation explores the rise of crypto ETPs, the role of regulation, and how traditional finance is increasingly embracing digital assets.

Ndinga argues that the crypto industry has entered a new phase, moving from a decade of retail-led adoption toward mainstream acceptance driven by institutional investors. He points to growing geopolitical uncertainty and demand for non-sovereign assets such as Bitcoin as key reasons institutions are paying attention. According to him, investors increasingly view Bitcoin as a censorship-resistant asset that can complement traditional portfolios.

A major focus of the discussion is crypto ETPs. Ndinga explains that these products are designed to meet the compliance and regulatory requirements of institutions that cannot directly hold crypto through exchanges. Pension funds, banks, insurers and family offices often need regulated investment vehicles to gain exposure to digital assets.

The conversation also offers insight into how 21Shares evaluates cryptocurrencies before launching investment products. Beyond regulation and market infrastructure, the firm studies the size of a project’s addressable market, the strength of its technology, the team behind it, and long-term adoption potential.