Inching Crypto Towards the Mainstream

In the decade or so since Bitcoin first announced itself to the world, the cryptocurrency industry has grown to incredible heights, while also still never quite gaining mainstream relevance. 

Crypto has long since shed its origins as a utopian currency system favored by hackers and hardcore libertarians; even aging Baby Boomers are asking their financial advisors if they should hold any in their portfolio. At the same time, it’s still frequently mocked and largely viewed with suspicion by the mainstream financial industry. 

Could cryptocurrencies ever be seen by the financial services industry as legitimate investments? There’s been minor movement, with exchanges looking at bitcoin futures contracts, and now Fidelity Investments is launching a crypto foray into Europe, which Reuters describes as “a new front in efforts to drag digital money into mainstream investing.”

Are we witnessing the humble beginnings of the wider acceptance of crypto, or will it always be something on the fringes?