Top 5 Myths Holding Financial Institutions Back from Crypto Integration

A Familiar Conversation

Earlier this year, I sat down with the CEO of a boutique trading desk.
They’d been watching the rise of digital assets for years — fielding client requests, tracking regulatory updates, studying competitors.

When I asked why they hadn’t launched crypto access yet, the answer was instant:

“We’d love to, but… it’s just not realistic for a firm like ours.”

Then came the list: “It’s too technical.” “The regulations aren’t ready.” “Our clients don’t really need it yet.”
Sound familiar?

These myths are widespread across financial institutions — from family offices and brokers to OTC desks and wealth platforms. But in 2025, they’re no longer valid. In fact, clinging to them is often the very reason firms are losing clients, revenue, and competitive ground.

Let’s unpack the five biggest myths holding firms back.

1. 🧰 “We need a huge tech team to offer crypto.”

This is the most common blocker. Firms assume crypto access requires building exchanges, wallets, custody, and reporting systems from scratch.

That may have been true five years ago. But today, embedded infrastructure platforms allow firms to integrate crypto services directly into their existing systems — no large engineering team required.

Think of it like payments: most companies didn’t build payment gateways — they partnered with Stripe. Crypto is following the same path.

👉 With the right partner, firms can go live in weeks, not years.

2. ⚖️ “Regulators aren’t ready yet.”

Regulation remains complex, but the narrative that it’s “unclear” is increasingly outdated.

Key jurisdictions have made significant progress on frameworks for custody, KYC/AML, stablecoins, and digital asset trading. Firms that stay informed — or work with infrastructure providers who build compliance into their stack — are discovering that clear pathways already exist.

Regulatory clarity is no longer the bottleneck; execution is.

3. 🚫 “Crypto is too risky for our business.”

There’s a difference between unmanaged risk and structured exposure. Retail speculation may be volatile, but institutional crypto access — with proper custody, compliance, and risk frameworks — is far more stable than most firms assume.

The real risk today is ignoring client demand. As more clients allocate to digital assets, the firms that don’t offer access risk losing assets under management, trading volumes, or advisory relevance to competitors who do.

4. 🤷 “Our clients don’t really care.”

This myth was easier to believe a few years ago. Not anymore.

72% of HNWIs under 45 want digital assets in their portfolios.

Family offices are exploring stablecoin strategies and tokenized assets.

Trading desks are expanding into on-chain liquidity.

Clients care — and they’re increasingly choosing partners who can deliver. “We don’t offer that” is no longer a neutral statement; it’s a door opening for someone else.

5. 🏗 “We’ll get to it eventually — it’s not urgent.”

This is perhaps the most dangerous myth of all.

While some firms debate timelines, competitors are already live. By the time laggards “get to it,” client expectations have shifted, relationships have weakened, and competitors have captured mindshare and wallet share.

Speed is now a strategic advantage, not a nice-to-have.

The Real Picture

When you strip away the myths, a new reality emerges:

The technology exists to launch quickly.

Regulatory frameworks are increasingly workable.

Client demand is undeniable.

Competitors are moving fast.

The biggest risk is no longer crypto.
It’s standing still while the market evolves.

The Bottom Line

For financial institutions — whether you’re a family office, trading desk, broker, or wealth platform — the myths that once justified hesitation no longer hold.

Crypto integration is now a strategic business decision, not a technical experiment. And with infrastructure partners like BetterX, it’s more accessible than ever.

👉 Book a demo to see how your firm can move past myths — and into action.