Navigating Token Performance: The Crucial Role of Investor Relations

Welcome to Crypto Long & Short, our institutional newsletter. This week, we delve into the importance of guide, deliver, repeat in token performance. By Jordan Brewer, investment analyst at Runa Digital Assets, the article highlights how poor investor relations can lead to the downfall of a protocol, even after a successful ICO. A key aspect of investor relations is regular investor calls where management provides forward guidance, as seen with teams at Maple Finance and EtherFi. Research shows that firms consistently meeting or beating their guidance enjoy a stock price premium, and this dynamic is beginning to emerge in crypto. Meanwhile, Martin Burgherr, chief clients officer at Sygnum Bank, discusses how institutions are separating custody from execution in crypto, signaling a broader evolution in digital asset market structure. This shift allows for more efficient use of capital, reducing costs and increasing returns. The infrastructure is being built by institutions, with firms like Wintermute and Nomura's Laser Digital already operating in this manner. As crypto markets mature, they are following a familiar pattern, with assets settling through custodians and trading on exchanges, governed by different entities. According to EY-Parthenon's 2026 institutional investor survey, 73% of institutional investors plan to increase their digital asset allocations this year, with respondents becoming more selective about counterparty risk. The migration to more mature market structures is already underway.