Richard Teng, Co-CEO of Binance, said that the cryptocurrency industry is entering a new phase characterized by increasing stablecoin volumes, expanding use cases, and growing institutional adoption. He emphasized that regulatory clarity will expedite mass adoption as Binance continues to develop secure and compliant products.
“Crypto is entering a new phase,” said Teng. “Stablecoin volumes are skyrocketing, use cases are scaling, and institutional adoption is accelerating. With the right regulatory clarity, we’ll see mass adoption happen even faster. Binance will continue building secure, compliant products to support that future.”
Stablecoin transaction volumes reached $9 trillion in 2025, representing an 87 percent increase from the previous year. According to recent data, institutional adoption of crypto assets has also grown, with 59 percent of investors planning allocations exceeding 5 percent of their assets under management. Global crypto activity surged by 50 percent in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year.
Mainstream institutions are formalizing access to cryptocurrencies. Reuters reports that Bank of America will allow its Private Bank and Merrill advisors to recommend crypto Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) starting January 5, 2026—expanding beyond execution-only access. Additionally, Charles Schwab’s CEO has confirmed plans to launch spot crypto trading in 2026. These developments indicate that large U.S. brokerages are integrating digital assets for mass-market clients, echoing Teng’s statement on mass adoption.
Binance has significantly expanded its compliance workforce, aiming for 645 full-time compliance employees by the end of the year—a 34% increase from the previous year—and states that more than 1,000 people, including contractors, are focused on compliance functions. This expansion highlights sustained investment in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) controls, investigations, and monitoring efforts that align with Teng’s emphasis on secure and compliant products.
Teng’s regulatory background supports Binance’s compliance initiatives. Before joining Binance as CEO in November 2023, he served as CEO of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority at Abu Dhabi Global Market and held senior roles at Singapore’s Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Singapore Exchange (SGX). This experience, combined with Yi He’s promotion to Co-CEO, signals governance depth aligned with a safer and user-centric growth strategy.
