Analysis: Crypto Investor Survey Shows Capital Preference Shifting Towards Infrastructure, Followed by DeFi

Odaily News A survey released by the digital asset conference CfC St. Moritz indicates that crypto investors and executives are shifting their capital allocation focus from decentralized finance (DeFi) towards core infrastructure development. The survey, based on responses from 242 attendees of an invitation-only event in January, included institutional investors, founders, executives, regulators, and family office representatives. The results show that 85% of respondents ranked infrastructure as their top investment priority, placing it above DeFi, compliance, cybersecurity, and user experience.

Liquidity shortages are seen as the industry's most pressing risk, with market depth and settlement capabilities identified as key bottlenecks limiting large-scale institutional capital inflows. Although most respondents hold positive expectations for revenue growth and innovation by 2026, the anticipated pace of radical innovation has decreased compared to last year, suggesting investors are now more focused on practical execution than speculative innovation. In terms of industry trends, capital is increasingly flowing towards core facilities such as custody, clearing, stablecoin infrastructure, and tokenization frameworks, while consumer-facing application development is receiving relatively less attention. The survey reveals that approximately 84% of respondents believe the macro environment is generally favorable for crypto development, but existing market infrastructure is still insufficient to support massive capital inflows. Overall, institutional investors are shifting their strategic focus from high-risk applications to the foundational elements necessary for the long-term sustainable development of the crypto market. (Cointelegraph)