The cryptocurrency space has grown from being called a “scam” and “Ponzi” to entering mainstream finance. One of the most significant reassurances regarding its acceptance is financial institutions opening their doors to crypto and digital assets. According to reports, financial giant JPMorgan’s crypto and blockchain unit, Onyx, has grown three-fold in the last few years.
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According to the report, JPMorgan’s crypto unit had only 100 employees three years ago. The figure has increased to 300 as of now. The growth in employees accounts for a 200% increase in three years. The firm’s growth is a testament to the growing popularity of crypto and digital assets among financial institutions and their clients.
Is JPMorgan’s CEO not bullish on crypto?
Although JPMorgan’s cryptocurrency unit has grown in its number of employees, the financial giant’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, might not be a believer yet. Last week, while speaking to Congress about crypto, Dimon stated, “If I was the government, I’d shut it down.”
In the past, the JPMorgan chief has also compared crypto to a “Ponzi scheme” and “hyped-up fraud.” Nonetheless, Dimon has expressed his love for enterprise blockchain. According to crypto and macroeconomics expert Noelle Acheson, “He hates Bitcoin. But he loves enterprise blockchain. He’s even intrigued by DeFi.“
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In 2014, Dimon called Bitcoin a terrible store of value. Moreover, in 2017, he said he would fire any JPMorgan employee caught trading crypto.
Acheson stated, “It’s difficult for many people with a certain mindset who run the financial system to understand that while Bitcoin is an asset, it’s also a technology.“
Despite Dimon’s criticism of crypto, it has not stopped the financial giant from opening its doors to digital assets and tokenization. The industry has leaped forward in the last few years, and demand for exposure to digital assets among clients has also significantly increased.