Despite the initial intention behind the creation of Bitcoin (BTC), the cryptocurrency movement has become increasingly reliant on adoption by big-name financial institutions to further drive the bullish thesis.
With the impending launch of institutional products like the Bakkt futures exchange, many retail investors believe the next big wave of adoption could happen at any moment and with it, the next bull rally.
However, a recent Cointelegraph interview with Winklevoss Capital partner Sterling Witzke, suggests all-out institutional adoption of digital currencies may not happen this year.
In the interview, Witzke delivered a tempered look at what it will really take for institutions to dive into crypto, emphasizing that current custodial offerings are not quite there yet.
Because the end of 2017 was so crazy, people tend to think the space moves at lightning speed At the level of underlying [tech] development it often does but I think it takes a while for institutions to get comfortable, Witzke said. 
There needs to be better custody, healthy debt and credit markets to get [them] really excited. So I dont think 2019 will necessarily be the year.
Notably, Witzke indicated that institutional investors have thoughtfully dipped their toes into crypto, but no plunge has yet occurred, again citing lack of regulatory clarity and custody concerns.