EW&L Insights
26 November 2025
Introduction — Is Crypto the New Frontier for Wealth Creation?
The world’s most sophisticated investors are rethinking what it means to diversify their portfolios.
Once viewed as speculative, digital assets and blockchain technology are now being recognised as a legitimate asset class, offering yield, liquidity, and diversification that provide alternatives to traditional markets.
In a recent episode of The Exchange, EW&L Managing Partner Tim Whybourne spoke with Michael Prendiville, CEO and co-founder of JellyC, about the institutionalisation of crypto, how blockchain is transforming financial markets, and what this means for family offices, business owners, and intergenerational investors.
“It’s still very early days for digital assets,” says Tim Whybourne. “We see this as a multi-decade opportunity that’s only just beginning.”
Listen to the full conversation on The Exchange Podcast: Michael Prendiville — Digital Assets Go Institutional
From Hedge Funds to the Blockchain: Michael Prendiville’s Journey
With more than 25 years across global banking and hedge fund management, Michael built a reputation for disciplined risk management and alpha generation.
But by 2018, as volatility dried up in traditional markets, he saw the writing on the wall.
“We needed volatility to generate alpha. Traditional markets had none. In digital assets, you have both volatility and yield, and no central bank to smooth it out.”
- Michael Prendiville
That insight led him to hand back capital from his Cayman-based macro hedge fund and go “all-in” on blockchain. Michael launched JellyC in 2021 to build an institutional-grade platform for crypto and digital-asset investing.
Why Institutional Investors Are Entering the Digital Asset Space
Today, many sovereign wealth funds, pensions, and family offices are exploring allocation frameworks for crypto exposure.
Australia, however, remains early. Tim and Michael both see this as an opportunity, not an obstacle.
“The U.S. is leading the way with ETF approval and institutional inflows. The rest of the world is just getting started. This is a multi-decade trade,” shares Michael.
Read Tim's article The Million Dollar Trade I Missed and Why it is Not Too Late.
Inside JellyC: Building Institutional Access to Digital Assets
JellyC’s fund range was designed to solve the biggest barriers for professional investors:
- counterparty risk
- custody
- compliance
Their partnerships with Franklin Templeton, Standard Chartered, and OKX have created a regulated bridge between traditional finance and blockchain, giving investors exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and market-neutral yield strategies within secure, familiar frameworks.
Michael notes that “[JellyC] became the first manager in the APEC region to integrate with Franklin Templeton’s tokenised money-market fund. That institutional framework gives investors real comfort.”
JellyC’s Case for Bitcoin and Ethereum in a Diversified Portfolio
Bitcoin, once dismissed as a fringe experiment, is now widely seen as digital gold. A hedge against monetary debasement with a finite supply of 21 million coins.
Ethereum, meanwhile, powers the programmable layer of finance, enabling smart contracts, tokenisation, and digital settlements across industries.
“Every major financial transaction could ultimately move through the blockchain. Ethereum is the network infrastructure for that future,” Michael shares.
For professional investors, Michael believes the investment logic is clear:
Scarcity + Adoption = Store of Value
Utility + Innovation = Growth Opportunity
Education, Regulation, and Timing
Both Tim and Michael agree that education and regulation are the twin catalysts for broader digital asset adoption.
“For investors, clarity builds confidence,” Tim adds. “As regulatory frameworks mature, access will expand, and disciplined structures will help bridge traditional wealth and the blockchain economy.”
With Australia’s forthcoming digital-asset legislation, similar to the U.S. “Clarity Act,” institutional engagement could accelerate in 2026 and beyond.
Michael says that “[JellyC] expect that once the regulatory framework is clear, big super and pensions will start allocating. It’s not a question of if, but when.”
Looking Ahead: The Decade of Blockchain Integration
By 2035, JellyC forecasts that most global financial transactions will be executed on blockchain rails, underpinning a $50 trillion digital-asset ecosystem.
The winners, Michael says, will be those who take measured, early positions today, balancing conviction with disciplined risk management.
“There’s never an easy win. The people who succeed are those who stay the course through cycles and build long-term conviction.”
- Michael Prendiville
EW&L’s Perspective
At Emanuel Whybourne & Loehr, we continue to monitor the evolution of digital-asset markets and the regulatory landscape shaping them.
For sophisticated investors, digital assets represent both an innovation frontier and a potential diversifier within broader wealth portfolios.
Our role is to help families understand these opportunities within a disciplined, risk-aware framework, combining global access with boutique-scale advice.
“Our role isn’t to chase hype,” Tim says. “It’s to help families engage with innovation responsibly through education, governance, and conviction.”
To discuss how digital assets may fit within a diversified investment strategy, speak with your EW&L adviser or contact our team.
Listen to the full conversation on The Exchange Podcast: Michael Prendiville — Digital Assets Go Institutional
