Definition ∞ Wholesale customers are large institutional clients or businesses that engage in high-volume transactions or require specialized financial services, typically distinct from retail consumers. In the digital asset sector, this includes hedge funds, financial institutions, and corporate treasuries seeking to access crypto markets, custody solutions, or bespoke blockchain services. Serving wholesale customers often involves specific regulatory considerations and tailored operational procedures. These clients represent a significant segment of the professional digital asset market.
Context ∞ The increasing participation of wholesale customers in the digital asset market is a notable trend, frequently reported in news concerning institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies. Discussions often revolve around the infrastructure and regulatory clarity required to support these large-scale participants, including secure custody solutions and compliant trading venues. Future growth in the digital asset space is closely tied to the continued expansion and maturation of services catering to wholesale customers.