The crypto industry has received another boost with the entry of financial services giant Northern Trust in a quiet but significant move. The firm, which manages over $10.7 trillion in assets, has added blockchain features into its private equity workflow, while extending its administration services to a select group of hedge funds betting on digital assets. For months, the cryptocurrency market has waited for the expected entry of institutional finance, an event which is expected to herald its coming-of-age as a bona fide investment asset class with a long-term future.