*By Jacqueline Corba*
The crypto world is turning to institutional investors to get the market out of its summer slump.
"This year, it's not *only* an asset that's only gone up, but it has great trading range, and that attracts a different type of institution where they see that volatility as an opportunity," Harbor Peak partner Paul Johnson said Thursday on Cheddar's CryptoCraze.
"But they are still, to some degree, trapped on the sidelines mostly for technical and institutional reasons ー not for any kind of market reasons," he said.
Bitcoin dropped Thursday below the $7,000 threshold, a mark it has hovered around for much of the summer. And it's a far cry from its all-time high close to $20,000 back in December of 2017.
"Short-term I think you are in a tight trading range through the fall," Johnson said.
The market is also anxiously awaiting approval of a Bitcoin ETF by the SEC. The agency rejected several proposals [last week] (https://cheddar.com/videos/sec-rejects-some-bitcoin-etf-proposals).
Johnson said the SEC is wary that its approval may signal investors to act too quickly.
"If they endorse an ETF they almost feel like they are telling retail and institutional investors this is a green light, and I think that makes them very nervous," he said.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/why-many-institutional-investors-are-trapped-on-sidelines-of-crypto).
A new report said the private sector added 103,000 jobs in November while refinance applications climb as mortgage rates dip. Plus, the FTC is once again looking to block the Microsoft-Activision deal and McDonald's is looking to buy 10,000 new locations by 2027.
Fans of the Grand Theft Auto series got a glimpse of the latest release that's not due out until 2025. The trailer was officially released after a leak on the 'X' platform, giving an idea to industry experts of the massive effect GTA will have on the gaming sector. Cheddar News senior reporter Michelle Castillo breaks it all down.
Tax season is around the corner as soon as we conclude the holiday festivities. Mark Steber, chief tax information officer with Jackson Hewitt, joined Cheddar News to discuss some tax changes that people should be aware of and what to expect during next year's tax filing season.
