Vanguard Dips Its Toe in Crypto: Will It Splash or Sink? 🤑

by

Darling, gather round, for the financial world is abuzz with the most delectable tidbit! Vanguard, that bastion of prudence and the second-largest asset management darling, is finally considering letting its clients dabble in the wild world of cryptocurrency ETFs. 🌪️ Yes, you heard it here first, my dears – the firm, with its $10 trillion in assets (no, that’s not a typo, darlings), is tiptoeing into the crypto fray, though it insists it won’t be launching its own products. How très chic of them to remain above the fray, unlike that flashy BlackRock with its IBIT extravaganza. 💎

According to the ever-so-reliable Crypto in America, Vanguard is “laying the groundwork” and “holding external discussions” – oh, how thrillingly vague! Apparently, client demand and a shifting regulatory landscape have forced their hand. But fear not, my cautious comrades, for they’re being “very methodical,” as a spokesperson so eloquently put it. Methodical, indeed – one might say they’re moving with the urgency of a tortoise at tea time. 🍵

Now, let’s talk about Salim Ramji, the CEO with a BlackRock pedigree. This darling was behind the launch of BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, which has raked in a cool $60 billion since January. Will he follow in the footsteps of his former über-boss, Larry Fink? Or will he remain steadfastly Vanguardian in his approach? The suspense is positively unbearable, darlings! 🎭

At the Morningstar Investment Conference, Ramji was as tight-lipped as a sphinx, refusing to confirm whether Vanguard would allow access to third-party crypto ETFs. Oh, the drama! Will they, won’t they? It’s like waiting for the final act of a particularly tedious opera, but with more spreadsheets. 🎶

The Crypto ETF Craze: A Financial Farce?

Let’s not forget, darlings, that the crypto ETF frenzy began in 2024 when the SEC finally gave its blessing to spot Bitcoin ETFs. It was the financial equivalent of letting the plebians into the ball – both institutional and retail investors could now waltz into the crypto world without actually owning the digital trinkets. BlackRock’s IBIT, of course, stole the show, raking in billions and proving that even the most traditional firms can’t resist a good trend. 💃

Leon Waidmann, the Research Director at the Onchain Foundation, spilled the tea: BlackRock’s crypto ETF business is a $260 million affair, with Bitcoin ETFs contributing a whopping $218 million. Ethereum, poor dear, only brought in $42 million – but one mustn’t be too hard on it; it’s still finding its footing. 🕺

So, there you have it, my financial fashionistas. Vanguard is dipping its toe into the crypto pool, but whether it’ll make a splash or sink into obscurity remains to be seen. Stay tuned, darlings, for this financial farce is far from over! 🎬

Read More

2025-09-26 18:42