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In an exclusive interview, Roy van Krimpen, General Manager for Western Europe at OKX, shares his perspective on the fundamental shift in the crypto market. Where retail investors once set the tone with speculation and FOMO, banks, large corporations, and professional traders are now shaping the landscape.
Thanks to clear European regulations and new partnerships, crypto is increasingly integrating into the traditional financial system. Van Krimpen explains why this marks the beginning of an entirely new phase in the adoption of digital currencies.
Institutional Wave Changes the Face of the Crypto Market #
“We are now in a very different cycle than four years ago,” says Van Krimpen. Whereas in 2021 people were “still talking about the next big crypto coin at the barbershop and the bakery,” it is now primarily large financial institutions that are becoming active.
Even ING is experimenting with its own stablecoin, alongside other banks like KBC. According to Van Krimpen, this shift is not a surprise, but it is a significant change: crypto is growing up.
Companies are now taking crypto more seriously because the rules have become clearer, especially thanks to new European legislation like MiCA.
Regulation and Trust Drive Adoption Forward #
OKX was an early mover in this development. The company first obtained Dutch registration from De Nederlandsche Bank and subsequently a MiCA license valid across Europe. According to Van Krimpen, this clarity gives large institutions the confidence that they can operate safely.
A good example of this is the partnership between OKX and Standard Chartered. For the first time, a global bank is now offering services that allow customers to securely store large amounts of crypto, from millions to even billions.
Retail Users Remain Important #
This doesn’t mean that retail users no longer play a role. OKX now has over 100 million users worldwide. Furthermore, the company is working on more local improvements, such as iDEAL in the Netherlands and Bancontact in Belgium.
However, Van Krimpen sees a clear pattern: retail investors often enter later, usually when prices are already high. Professional parties, he argues, provide stability and continuity.
Despite the current lull in market activity, OKX remains optimistic. The fundamentals—increased use of blockchain technology, ever-clearer regulations, and the rise of more efficient payment systems—are stronger than ever, according to Van Krimpen.
“Whether the price goes up or down, the underlying adoption only increases.”