Unlocking Token Performance: The Power of Effective Investor Relations

Welcome to our institutional newsletter, Crypto Long & Short. This week, we delve into the importance of investor relations in token markets. Jordan Brewer, investment analyst at Runa Digital Assets, discusses how poor investor relations can lead to the downfall of even the most promising projects. He highlights the need for regular investor calls, where management provides forward guidance, and how this can make or break token valuations. Brewer also explores the value of guidance accuracy, citing research that shows firms that consistently meet or beat their guidance enjoy a measurable stock price premium. Meanwhile, Martin Burgherr, chief clients officer at Sygnum Bank, examines the shift in how institutional capital moves through crypto markets, with major trading firms separating custody from execution. This change signals a broader evolution in digital asset market structure, making it more efficient and lower-risk for institutions. Burgherr discusses how the infrastructure is catching up, with firms using collateral held in regulated bank custody while maintaining access to exchange liquidity. The separation of custody and execution is not just theoretical, with firms like Wintermute and Nomura's digital asset arm Laser Digital already operating this way. As the crypto market continues to mature, it is following a familiar pattern, with traditional finance solving similar problems in the past. According to EY-Parthenon's 2026 institutional investor survey, 73% of institutional investors plan to increase their digital asset allocations this year, with respondents getting more selective about counterparty risk. The infrastructure is scaling to meet them, and the migration is already underway.