In June, corporate interest in Bitcoin continued to grow, with an increasing number of companies recognising its strategic role as a balance sheet asset. No longer viewed solely as a passive store of value, Bitcoin is increasingly being deployed across DeFi, treasury strategies, and staking protocols as a yield-generating instrument. Calvin Shen unpacks this shift and the infrastructure enabling it in his latest thought leadership.
Alongside these broader market developments, Hex Trust continues to strengthen. From the launch of our Counterparty Book to supporting sBTC and expanding asset support, we’re building the tools institutions need to engage safely, at scale.
We also take a look at the conversations shaping the industry, from BTCFi and Ethereum market dynamics, to how corporates in Asia are embracing Bitcoin as a productive treasury asset. This month, our team spoke with CoinDesk, Blockhead, and crypto.news to share perspectives on market rotation, risk appetite, and Bitcoin reserve strategies.
Read on for June’s highlights.
In his latest thought leadership piece, join Calvin Shen to explore how Bitcoin is entering a new phase, moving beyond its role as a macro hedge and reserve asset to become a productive part of institutional portfolios.
With the rise of wrapped BTC, Bitcoin-native Layer 2s, and institutional-grade execution pathways, the infrastructure is finally catching up to the demand. Despite representing over $2 trillion in market cap, less than 2 percent of Bitcoin is currently deployed in DeFi. Calvin argues this is not due to a lack of appetite, but a lack of secure and compliant infrastructure. That gap is beginning to close.
At Hex Trust, we’re already working with the next wave of BTCFi protocols to enable institutional access to yield strategies, safely and at scale.
Hex Trust has launched the Counterparty Book, a new feature designed to enhance transaction security and streamline compliance with Travel Rule regulations in key jurisdictions, including Singapore, the EU, and the MENA region.
The Counterparty Book allows Hex Trust’s clients to:
The Counterparty Book empowers Hex Trust clients to comply with global regulations, enhance operational transparency, manage risk, reduce fraud, and build a trusted network of verified counterparties.
For a full walkthrough, visit the Counterparty Book Help Center, or refer to our Knowledge Base.
We’ve added support for five new assets across multiple chains, further expanding the range of tokens available to clients on Hex Safe.
For a complete list of supported chains and assets, please refer to our Knowledge Base.
This move allows institutional clients to securely store, manage, and deploy SIP-010 tokens, including sBTC, a leading Bitcoin-backed asset for DeFi, within Hex Trust’s licensed, institutional-grade infrastructure.
Read the full announcement here.
Head of OTC, Charmaine Tam, was featured in CoinDesk’s Asia Morning Briefing, sharing her views on what Ethereum’s outperformance may signal for market sentiment.
With ETH up 54% in Q2 2025, compared to Bitcoin’s 34%, Charmaine noted that this divergence could mark the start of a rotation into high-beta altcoins. It reflects a growing appetite for risk and rising interest in sectors such as DeFi, modular infrastructure, and decentralized AI.
Read the full article on CoinDesk.
Hex Trust’s Chief Commercial Officer, Calvin Shen, spoke with Blockhead about how institutions are rethinking Bitcoin’s place in portfolios, especially in today’s shifting macro environment.
While gold continues to serve as a traditional safe haven, Bitcoin is taking on a more dynamic role. Calvin shared how we’re seeing a shift from passive holding to strategic deployment, with Bitcoin increasingly used for yield generation, collateral, and long-term exposure.
“This isn’t the end of the digital gold narrative,” he noted. “It’s a transition to strategic deployment.”
Read the full article on Blockhead.
crypto.news asked Calvin Shen for his views on Metaplanet’s headline-making Bitcoin strategy, and what it signals for corporate adoption in Asia.
While the size of their BTC allocation has drawn attention, Calvin pointed to the structure behind the move: a $5.3 billion plan involving equity issuance, diversified treasury tools, and dual-market access across Japan and the U.S.
He noted that more corporates in Asia are beginning to view Bitcoin not just as a store of value, but as a strategic, productive balance sheet asset. For these strategies to succeed over time, execution discipline and strong fundamentals will be critical.
Read the full interview in crypto.news
We were named “Best Independent Digital Asset Custodian in Asia” at the Future of Finance Awards. The recognition reflects our continued commitment to regulatory compliance, security, and innovation as we support institutional clients across the region.
On June 26, we partnered with the Bitcoin Association of Hong Kong to co-host the BTC Chamber of Commerce Gathering: an evening for merchants, builders, and Bitcoiners to connect and explore the local Bitcoin economy. Speakers included Charmaine Tam (Hex Trust), John Riggins (Moon Inc), and Jeremy Chiang, who shared on-the-ground perspectives on corporate Bitcoin adoption.
Giorgia Pellizzari and Palak Agrawal joined the Consulate General of India’s Book Club to discuss the book "Cryptoassets: The Innovative Investor’s Guide to Bitcoin and Beyond" by Chris Burniske and Jack Tatar. The session explored what digital assets mean for investors today, covering themes such as market maturity, custody standards, and institutional adoption.
Thanks for following our journey. We’ll be back next month with more updates on how we’re shaping the future of digital finance alongside our partners and clients.
For further information and assistance, contact our support team at clients@hextrust.com
— The Hex Trust Team
