Bitwise CEO Predicts 2025 Will See Surge in Tokenization, AI Innovation, and Corporate Bitcoin Adoption

Hunter Horsley, CEO of Bitwise, believes that 2025 could be a transformative year for the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on January 5, Horsley outlined his vision for how a combination of artificial intelligence (AI), tokenization, corporate Bitcoin adoption, and the potential deregulation of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) could catalyze the growth of new capital markets and accelerate the adoption of crypto technology.

Tokenization: Unlocking Capital for Small Businesses

One of Horsley’s key predictions revolves around the concept of tokenization, which he believes will play a pivotal role in enabling smaller, niche businesses to access capital markets in unprecedented ways. While tokenization has traditionally been associated with democratizing access to investment opportunities, Horsley emphasized that the real potential lies in its ability to unlock supply-side benefits.

"Tokenization could be the key to giving a vast number of small businesses the ability to tap into capital markets," Horsley explained. "This opens up the possibility for businesses that traditionally would never be able to go public to tokenize their operations, raising funds and enabling new types of market participants."

This shift could allow businesses in industries like real estate, debt, and equity to digitize their assets and trade them on blockchain platforms, ultimately transforming the traditional financial system. Horsley’s view aligns with the growing recognition of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization as a major trend in the crypto space. Edwin Mata, CEO of Brickken, a company specializing in RWA tokenization, also noted that this could be a game-changer in how traditional markets operate, providing liquidity and enabling fractional ownership in physical assets.

AI and the Rise of Micro Companies

Horsley also sees AI playing a significant role in reshaping business landscapes by fueling the growth of a new class of small, niche businesses. With the capabilities of AI advancing rapidly, he envisions an explosion of micro-companies that could never go public but could tokenize their operations to raise capital.

“AI could massively increase the number of niche businesses,” Horsley said. "These companies may not be large enough to go public, but they could tokenize their assets, creating a new long-tail capital market." This would open up opportunities for entrepreneurs to tap into global capital without the barriers traditionally associated with accessing public markets.

Corporate Bitcoin Adoption: The Rise of the "Bitcoin Standard"

In addition to these technological advancements, Horsley predicts that 2025 will see a significant rise in corporations adopting Bitcoin as part of their treasury strategy. These "Bitcoin Standard Corporations" will follow in the footsteps of MicroStrategy, the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, which currently holds 446,400 BTC worth around $43.7 billion.

Horsley envisions more companies following suit and adopting Bitcoin as a reserve asset, further legitimizing the cryptocurrency’s role in the corporate world. Several smaller companies have already begun to implement Bitcoin-based strategies for their treasuries, signaling a shift toward widespread corporate adoption of the cryptocurrency.

“2025 is going to see a lot of corporations joining the Bitcoin standard,” Horsley predicted, adding that this trend could boost Bitcoin’s role as a legitimate asset class for corporate balance sheets.

The Impact of M&A Deregulation on Crypto

Horsley also highlighted the potential impact of deregulation in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) space, particularly under the leadership of the Trump administration. He believes that an “unfreezing” of M&A activity, especially among large corporations, could provide a tailwind for crypto adoption.

“The big may get bigger, and the middle may shrink,” Horsley said, referencing the potential for tech giants like Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla—collectively known as the “magnificent seven”—to use their market cap for strategic acquisitions. If this occurs, Horsley predicts that it will lead to further centralization and corporate consolidation, which could paradoxically accelerate crypto adoption.

“The conceptual premise of crypto is not trusting large institutions to do what’s in your best interest. The big getting bigger only accentuates this," he explained. In other words, as corporations continue to grow in size and influence, the demand for decentralized alternatives like crypto could intensify.

Conclusion: A Transformative Year for Crypto and AI

Horsley’s insights offer a compelling vision for 2025, where the convergence of AI, tokenization, and corporate Bitcoin adoption could reshape the financial landscape. With the potential for tokenizing real-world assets, the rise of AI-driven micro-businesses, and more companies embracing Bitcoin as part of their corporate strategy, 2025 could usher in a new era for both crypto markets and the broader economy.

As AI continues to evolve and tokenization opens doors for smaller businesses, Horsley believes that the crypto market will experience an influx of new participants, creating new opportunities for capital raising and investment. The continued rise of the "Bitcoin Standard" and the deregulation of M&A activities could provide further momentum, ensuring that crypto continues to gain mainstream adoption in the years to come.