The cryptocurrency market, once reeling from a brutal 2022 and a largely flat 2023, has surged back into the spotlight in 2024. After dipping below $1 trillion in market capitalization, the sector has now rebounded past the $2 trillion mark — a powerful signal of renewed investor confidence. At the heart of this resurgence is Bitcoin (BTC), which alone accounts for roughly half of the total crypto market value.
Despite this momentum, many investors remain wary of the extreme volatility associated with digital assets. Buying and holding crypto directly can lead to sleepless nights, especially during sharp corrections. Fortunately, there’s a smarter, more stable alternative: investing in established public companies that are deeply integrated into the blockchain and crypto ecosystem.
By focusing on equities tied to crypto infrastructure, trading platforms, and financial innovation, investors can gain indirect exposure to the digital asset revolution — without the rollercoaster price swings. Here are three compelling stocks that offer a bridge to crypto’s growth story while operating within traditional financial frameworks.
PayPal: Digital Payments Powerhouse with Crypto Integration
PayPal (PYPL) is a global leader in digital payments, serving over 426 million active accounts as of 2023. While best known for its online checkout solutions and ownership of Venmo, PayPal has quietly become a significant player in the crypto space.
Consumers can buy, sell, and hold major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin directly through their PayPal and Venmo wallets. This seamless integration brings crypto trading to mainstream users who might otherwise avoid dedicated exchanges.
👉 Discover how financial platforms are integrating crypto for everyday users.
Even more impactful was PayPal’s 2023 launch of PayPal USD (PYUSD) — a fully regulated, U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin. This move positions PayPal at the forefront of the tokenized money revolution, potentially paving the way for broader adoption in payments, remittances, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
While Morningstar analysts acknowledge long-term competitive pressures — particularly from fintech rivals and evolving consumer behavior — they remain optimistic about PayPal’s trajectory. Analyst Brett Horn projects 8% annual revenue growth over the next decade. The company’s Q4 performance reinforced this outlook, with revenue rising 9% year-over-year to $8 billion, fueled by strong growth in total payment volume.
Venmo, though still in early monetization stages, adds another layer of potential. Its built-in crypto trading feature allows younger demographics to experiment with digital assets in a familiar environment.
Although Horn recently adjusted PayPal’s fair value down to $104 from $135 due to near-term growth moderation, the long-term fundamentals remain solid — especially as crypto becomes more embedded in everyday financial activity.
Block: Fintech Innovator Riding the Bitcoin Wave
Block (SQ), formerly known as Square and led by Jack Dorsey, is a multifaceted fintech company with deep roots in the Bitcoin economy. Through its Cash App platform, Block enables users to trade Bitcoin and other assets, making it one of the most accessible entry points for retail investors.
In 2023 alone, Cash App generated $205 million in Bitcoin gross profit** and **$9.5 billion in Bitcoin-related revenue — increases of 31% and 34% respectively compared to the prior year. With Bitcoin approaching new all-time highs in 2024, these figures are poised to climb even further.
Beyond consumer-facing services, Block owns Afterpay (a buy-now-pay-later provider), operates a banking arm, and supports stock and crypto trading — creating a comprehensive financial ecosystem centered around mobile accessibility.
Morningstar highlights the “option value” in Block’s strategy to expand Cash App into a full-service consumer finance platform. Despite fierce competition from other neobanks and payment apps, Cash App continues to outperform its peers in user engagement and transaction volume.
Brett Horn, Morningstar equity analyst, maintains confidence in Block’s long-term vision but revised the stock’s fair value down to $83 from $98 due to recent profitability challenges. Still, he believes Cash App will emerge as a stronger growth engine over time.
For investors seeking exposure to Bitcoin’s success without owning it directly, Block offers a unique blend of innovation, scale, and real-world utility.
👉 See how fintech platforms are reshaping access to digital assets.
CME Group: Institutional Gateway to Crypto Futures
CME Group (CME) may not be a household name among retail investors, but it plays a pivotal role in bringing institutional credibility to cryptocurrency markets.
As the world’s largest derivatives exchange, CME offers regulated Bitcoin and Ether futures and options, allowing professional traders and funds to gain exposure to crypto price movements without holding digital tokens. As of early March, CME accounted for nearly 29% of global Bitcoin futures open interest, representing around $9 billion in notional value.
This institutional-grade infrastructure is critical for market maturation. It enables hedging, risk management, and speculative positioning within a compliant framework — something many traditional investors demand.
CME’s broader business spans interest rate futures, equity index derivatives, commodities, and foreign exchange. However, its growing crypto offerings have become an important diversification tool. Morningstar notes that favorable market conditions in 2022 and 2023 — marked by elevated volatility across asset classes — drove strong trading volumes and revenue growth.
With short-term interest rates now significantly higher than the near-zero levels seen during much of the past decade, demand for interest rate futures has rebounded. This shift removes a major headwind that previously dampened CME’s core business.
Analyst Michael Miller assigns a $220 fair value estimate to CME stock and forecasts a 4.2% annual growth rate through 2027. The company capped off 2023 with record results: **$5.6 billion in revenue and $3.2 billion in net income** — its strongest financial performance ever.
For conservative investors who trust regulated markets over decentralized protocols, CME represents a low-volatility proxy to benefit from rising crypto adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I gain exposure to crypto without buying Bitcoin or Ethereum directly?
A: Yes. Investing in stocks like PayPal, Block, and CME Group allows you to benefit from crypto adoption through companies that provide related services such as trading platforms, payment integration, and futures contracts.
Q: Are crypto-related stocks less volatile than cryptocurrencies themselves?
A: Generally yes. While these stocks can still be affected by crypto market swings, they are diversified businesses with multiple revenue streams, making them more stable than holding digital assets alone.
Q: How does PayPal’s stablecoin (PYUSD) relate to cryptocurrency?
A: PYUSD is a regulated digital currency pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar. It operates on blockchain networks and supports fast transfers, bridging traditional finance with emerging Web3 applications.
Q: Why is CME Group considered a safe way to invest in crypto?
A: CME offers regulated Bitcoin and Ether futures, used by institutions worldwide. Its business model relies on trading fees rather than crypto price speculation, providing indirect exposure with lower risk.
Q: Does Block profit from Bitcoin price increases?
A: Block earns revenue from Bitcoin trading activity on Cash App — including spreads and transaction fees — so higher trading volume during bull markets boosts profits even if prices fluctuate.
Q: Is now a good time to invest in companies tied to crypto?
A: With crypto markets rebounding past $2 trillion and institutional adoption growing, companies facilitating access to digital assets may be well-positioned for future growth — especially those with scalable platforms and regulatory compliance.
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👉 Learn how regulated platforms are expanding access to digital finance.