ETF

A crypto ETF is a regulated investment fund that tracks the price of one or more digital assets and trades on traditional stock exchanges like the NYSE or Nasdaq.Following the success of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, the 2026 market now includes Solana ETFs and diversified Altcoin Baskets. ETFs serve as the primary vehicle for institutional capital and retirement funds (401k/IRA) to enter the Web3 space. This tag tracks regulatory approvals, AUM (Assets Under Management) inflows, and the impact of Wall Street on crypto liquidity.

40417 Articles
Created: 2026/02/02 18:52
Updated: 2026/02/02 18:52
ETH to $3,500 Before the Altseason Explosion?

ETH to $3,500 Before the Altseason Explosion?

Why This September Correction Is Your Biggest Opportunity Yet If you’ve been watching Ethereum’s price soar and wondering if the party will ever end — here’s the good news and the reality check you need. Spoiler: A dip to $3,500 isn’t a disaster — it’s the setup for one of the biggest crypto rallies ever. What’s Really Happening in Crypto Right Now? Let’s imagine the crypto market is like a roller coaster. Bitcoin is the big, slow climb to the top that everyone watches. Ethereum (ETH) and other altcoins are the twists and turns that come next. This year, Bitcoin’s roller coaster just reached a critical point — the bottom of a ramp called the Bull Market Support Band. Think of this as a safety net where the ride slows, shakes out nervous riders, then shoots up faster than before. Guess what? Bitcoin already hit that support net last week.Image generated using Perplexity & Grok Now, it’s Ethereum’s turn to dip a little before it zooms up again — this time, potentially much higher than before. But why exactly would Ethereum need to dip before it takes off? And what does this mean for smaller altcoins? Here’s the simple breakdown. The Magic of the “Power of 3” Market Structure (No Fancy Jargon, Promise!) Imagine you’re baking a cake. You don’t just throw everything in the oven all at once, right? There’s a process — you mix ingredients, let the dough rest, then bake. Crypto markets work kind of the same way. Step 1: Bitcoin leads the way. It rises first, then takes a breather at a key support level. This happened just recently when Bitcoin dipped to about $108,500 and held firm.Bitcoin touching the Bull Market Support Band Step 2: Ethereum follows Bitcoin’s lead. It will usually dip after Bitcoin cools off, resting and consolidating before the next big jump.Ethereum Chart showing the path to the Bull Market Support Band Step 3: Once Ethereum is ready, smaller altcoins (think the rest of the baking ingredients) kick into high gear, pumping the whole crypto market to new heights. This pattern repeated in 2017 and 2021, and everything points to it happening again in 2025. Bitcoin Has Hit Its Safety Net — Now It’s Ethereum’s Turn Let’s get cozy with that Bull Market Support Band Bitcoin touched last week. This is the price zone where Bitcoin’s price often finds strong support — like a trampoline that stops the fall and catapults it back up. Bitcoin climbing down and bouncing off this band is a big deal. It kicked out panic sellers and ready buyers jumped in. This creates a strong foundation for the next bull run. Note, that while this has technically been achieved it does not mean we are done with this move, Bitcoin could easily spend some days or weeks here and even fall through lower for some time. However, a strong weekly close above the support band is what traders are looking out for here. Ethereum, which tends to mimic Bitcoin but with a slight delay, hasn’t hit its safety net yet — but it will soon. Analysts estimate Ethereum may drop to around $3,500. Think of it as Ethereum taking a deep breath before running a marathon. The better this rest, the stronger the next sprint. Why Everyone’s Talking About That $4 Billion ETH ETF Inflow (And Why It Means a Correction Is Coming) You’ve likely seen headlines about billions of dollars flowing into Ethereum ETFs. It sounds like Ethereum is unstoppable, right? But here’s the surprise — institutional buying can sometimes trigger short-term price drops before actually fueling big gains.Ethereum chart showing support and resistance Here’s why: Imagine a fast-moving crowd suddenly pausing to catch their breath. Prices spike on ETF hype, but investors also want to lock in gains. That leads to some selling pressure that drops ETH price temporarily. Data shows Ethereum is currently overbought — the market has run ahead of itself. Leverage (basically borrowing money to trade) is sky-high. When traders get nervous, many get forced to sell, pushing prices down fast. All these ingredients bake into a recipe for a healthy correction — and it looks like $3,500 is where the market may find its next stable base. $3,500: Not a Crash, but the Launchpad Why $3,500? Because it’s the sweet spot where history, math, and volume all say buyers will step in. It matches a classic 61.8% Fibonacci retracement — a fancy way traders use math to find likely support zones. It aligns with past cycles, where Ethereum corrected about 28%-47% before soaring. Big buyers have been quietly positioning below $3,600, ready to scoop up ETH as it falls. More importantly — it is where the Bull Market Support Band for $ETH would probably rise to in the coming weeks. This correction isn’t a sign that the bull market is broken — it’s the final reset before a massive surge. The Altcoin Market Is Quiet — But It’s Heating Up Behind the ScenesTOTAL3 Chart looking for a bounce off of the bull market support band to break through Here’s the secret sauce: While everyone focuses on big brother Bitcoin and sister Ethereum, there’s a whole family of smaller altcoins (called TOTAL3) waiting in the wings. TOTAL3 represents the total value of all altcoins excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum. Right now, TOTAL3 is forming a pattern known as a symmetrical triangle — which usually means a big breakout is coming. History shows that after Bitcoin and Ethereum stabilize, altcoins skyrocket — sometimes for months on end. This could be the calm before the altcoin storm. Why September 2025 Is the Perfect Month for This Drama September is notorious in crypto for being volatile — investors call it “Redtember” because prices often dip this month. But behind that dip is usually a huge rally waiting in October (“UPtober”). This September, several factors align: Macro-economic uncertainty makes everyone nervous. Traders must clear out risky positions. Institutions reposition capital to unlock massive gains soon. The scary corrections are just part of the game — but they set the stage for the real fireworks. What You Can Expect: A Four-Month Ridehttps://medium.com/media/dafdcc380a1bd169bc4296ce05f52ea9/href Sep: The Dip Ethereum slides to $3,500, altcoins shake out shaky holders. Oct: The Bounce Ethereum jumps toward $6,000 and altcoins start breaking out. Nov: The Acceleration Smaller altcoins like gaming tokens and real-world asset projects take off. Dec: The Explosion Microcaps and meme coins soar as mainstream FOMO hits full gear. Managing Your Crypto Journey This isn’t financial advice, but smart investors: Consider averaging your buys as ETH dips. Diversify with blue-chip altcoins during dips. Use stops and take profits carefully — crypto is wild. A correction can hurt short term, but it’s a gift to those prepared. Conclusion: The Correction You Want If you worry ETH will crash, flip that feeling. The correction to $3,500 is the launchpad that will send Ethereum and altcoins much higher. Crypto’s next big wave isn’t starting with endless green candles — it’s starting with smart, healthy resets that prepare us for unbelievable gains. Keep calm, stack ETH around $3,500, and get ready to ride the altcoin rollercoaster. ETH to $3,500 Before the Altseason Explosion? was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story

Author: Medium
Solana Price Breaks $209 – Can ETF Optimism Push SOL to $233?

Solana Price Breaks $209 – Can ETF Optimism Push SOL to $233?

The post Solana Price Breaks $209 – Can ETF Optimism Push SOL to $233? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Solana price now has extended its winning streak. It is currently trading at $209.77 after gaining 3.48% in the last 24 hours. The token’s market cap climbed to $113.49 billion, while 24-hour trading volume surged 35.96% to $9.08 billion. This uptick comes as positivity builds over potential U.S. approval of spot Solana ETFs, with issuers …

Author: CoinPedia
Coinbase To Launch Mag7 + Crypto Equity Index Futures On Sept 22, Featuring Apple, Tesla, And Bitcoin Exposure

Coinbase To Launch Mag7 + Crypto Equity Index Futures On Sept 22, Featuring Apple, Tesla, And Bitcoin Exposure

The post Coinbase To Launch Mag7 + Crypto Equity Index Futures On Sept 22, Featuring Apple, Tesla, And Bitcoin Exposure appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. Coinbase is taking a bold step into new territory with the announcement of its Mag7 + Crypto Equity Index Futures, set to launch on September 22. The new product marks a historic first in the U.S. derivatives market by offering investors simultaneous exposure to both the “Magnificent 7” tech stocks and leading cryptocurrency ETFs. “We’re launching the first US futures that give exposure to the top US tech stocks and crypto at the same time,” said Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase. “We’ll launch more products like this as part of the everything exchange. Coming on September 22.” A First-of-Its-Kind Futures Product Until now, no U.S.-listed derivative provided exposure to equities and cryptocurrencies in a single contract. Coinbase Derivatives describes the new futures as a “diversified, capital-efficient tool” designed to serve investors seeking innovation-focused, multi-asset products. The contracts are positioned to address three core needs: Thematic Exposure to Innovation & Growth: Capturing the performance of transformative technology leaders and blockchain-native assets. Diversification in a Unified Product: Providing exposure across asset classes that have traditionally traded separately. Strategic Risk Management: Offering new ways to hedge portfolios against multi-asset risks. Inside the Mag7 + Crypto Equity Index The underlying Mag7 + Crypto Equity Index is evenly weighted across ten components: Magnificent 7 Stocks: Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), NVIDIA (NVDA), Meta Platforms (META), Tesla (TSLA) Coinbase (COIN) Stock Cryptocurrency ETFs: iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) and iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) Each of the 10 assets will carry a 10% weighting, with the index rebalanced quarterly to reflect market changes. MarketVector has been named as the official index provider. Trading Details Mag7 + Crypto Equity Index Futures will be monthly, cash-settled contracts. Each contract represents $1 x the Index, meaning that if the Index is priced at $3,000, the notional…

Author: BitcoinEthereumNews
Virgin Bitcoin: Provenance, Premiums, and Protocol-Level Identification

Virgin Bitcoin: Provenance, Premiums, and Protocol-Level Identification

This guide provides a step-by-step process for isolating and tagging untouched Coinbase UTXOs in Sparrow Wallet, enabling you to understand their real-world value. In the digital gold rush, the purest form of Bitcoin is the kind that’s never changed hands—Bitcoin mined into existence and sent directly from a Coinbase transaction to a wallet. This is what’s known as Virgin Bitcoin, and it’s becoming increasingly valuable in a world of compliance, regulation, and institutional custody. This guide will walk you through exactly how to: Identify virgin Bitcoin within your wallet Tag and manage it using Sparrow Wallet Understand how much more it can be worth compared to regular BTC OpenAI DALL-E3 by Author What Is Virgin Bitcoin? Virgin Bitcoin refers to coins that have never been transacted beyond their original creation in a coinbase transaction—the special transaction that rewards miners when they find a new block. For a coin to be considered “virgin,” it must: Be directly mined into existence via a coinbase transaction Have no previous transaction history (i.e., no inputs except the coinbase input) Be sent directly from the miner or mining pool to your address Remain unspent since that initial movement This type of Bitcoin is as clean as it gets—completely untarnished by exchange flows, darknet markets, CoinJoins, mixers, or any kind of behavioral risk flag that could be picked up by chain surveillance tools. Why Virgin Bitcoin Is Valuable The Bitcoin protocol makes no distinction between “clean” and “tainted” coins—1 BTC is always 1 BTC. But in practice, especially among institutions, OTC desks, and regulatory-conscious entities, the provenance of a coin matters. Here’s why virgin Bitcoin carries strategic weight: Zero Taint: It’s untouched by prior transactions, making it a breeze to audit. Regulatory Compliance: Perfect for institutions and funds that require known, clean coin histories. Cold Vault Quality: Ideal for long-term cold storage, sovereign treasuries, and ETF custodians. High Trust Factor: Chain analysis firms can clearly confirm its origin, reducing legal or reputational risk. Market Premium: OTC buyers often pay more for virgin coins due to these attributes. OpenAI DALL-E3 by Author The Market Premium for Virgin Bitcoin As of August 2025, virgin Bitcoin often trades at a premium on private and institutional markets. While the base Bitcoin price is universally quoted, virgin coins can command between 2% and 20% more, depending on several factors. In smaller OTC trades, buyers may offer a 2–5% premium for verifiable virgin coins. For larger transactions—especially from known mining pools with clear chain provenance—the premium can reach 10% or more. Sovereign entities or custodians acquiring BTC for vaulting have been known to pay up to 20% for large blocks of verified virgin Bitcoin. For example, if BTC is trading at $64,000, a well-documented 5 BTC Coinbase output may sell for $67,200–$76,800 depending on the buyer and the quality of verification. How to Identify Virgin Bitcoin Using Sparrow Wallet Sparrow Wallet is one of the best tools available for managing and analyzing your Bitcoin UTXOs (Unspent Transaction Outputs). It allows you to trace individual coins back to their origin, inspect the transaction data, and tag coins with helpful labels. Here’s how to identify virgin Bitcoin in Sparrow step-by-step. Step 1: Load Your Wallet Please open Sparrow Wallet and load the wallet in question. This can be a hardware wallet, watch-only descriptor, multisig setup, or hot wallet. Ensure you’re connected to a trusted Electrum server or your Bitcoin Core full node is txindex enabled. This allows for complete transaction lookup and analysis. Step 2: Open the UTXO Viewer Navigate to the “UTXOs” tab at the bottom of the Sparrow interface. Here you’ll see a list of every unspent output your wallet controls. This is where the search for virgin Bitcoin begins. Step 3: Inspect the Transaction Details Right-click on a UTXO and choose “View Transaction.” You’re looking for the transaction’s input data. If the only input is labeled as "a,"coinbase that means it was created via a mining reward. In the transaction input section, you should see something like: Input 0: Coinbase: 03e4a1... (hex-encoded coinbase script) Sequence: ffffffff This confirms the transaction was a Coinbase payout. Next, ensure that the output address is yours (i.e., the UTXO is directly assigned to you) and that there are no intermediate outputs or signs of distribution. If you’re the first recipient and the coin hasn’t moved since, this is a virgin UTXO. Step 4: Verify with a Block Explorer Sparrow allows you to open the transaction in an external block explorer Click "Open in Block Explorer" and choose a reputable explorer, like mempool.space or oxt. Confirm that: The transaction was the coinbase for a block It was mined by a known pool (Foundry, F2Pool, Marathon, etc.) Your address is directly listed in the outputs There are no unusual outputs or mixing behaviors. Step 5: Tag the Virgin UTXO in Sparrow Once confirmed, go back to the UTXOs tab, right-click the UTXO, and choose “Label.” Use a descriptive tag like: 💎 Virgin BTC – Coinbase DirectFoundry Pool, Block #805321TXID: 6d2a... Verified 2025-08-08 This makes it easy to identify later for spending, reporting, or OTC sale. Step 6: (Optional) Tag the Address If you want to go one level deeper, open the Addresses tab, find the receiving address for the UTXO, and label it similarly: Virgin BTC Receiving Address – Coinbase TX only This can help you build a catalog of clean receiving addresses, especially useful if you’re a miner accumulating cold storage directly. Step 7: (Optional) Export Your Labels To back up your virgin coin metadata: Go to File → Export Wallet Choose to Include Labels Save the .json file to an encrypted USB or air-gapped system This preserves your tagging and analysis for long-term archival or audit-proofing.OpenAI DALL-E3 by Author Best Practices for Managing Virgin Bitcoin To preserve the value and integrity of your virgin coins, follow these guidelines: Never mix virgin coins with others in a transaction. Avoid CoinJoins, mixing, or consolidations. Use one UTXO per transaction to maintain provability. Sign messages from the receiving address if a buyer requests proof. Keep a record of the block height, TXID, and pool origin. Once virgin BTC is spent or mixed, it loses its premium status. Treat them like digital gold bars: once melted, you can’t prove their origin.OpenAI DALL-E3 by Author Final Thoughts: Purity as a Premium Virgin Bitcoin is becoming more than a technical curiosity. In a post-regulatory, chain-analyzed world, coin purity is evolving into a feature—not just a novelty. If you mine Bitcoin or receive mining pool payouts, you may already have virgin coins sitting quietly in your wallet. By using Sparrow Wallet to identify and tag these UTXOs, you unlock strategic advantages: greater liquidity in high-value OTC markets, enhanced legal defensibility, and the ability to hold what is arguably the cleanest form of Bitcoin that exists. In the end, the Bitcoin protocol doesn’t care where your sats came from. But the world might. So learn to identify, tag, and preserve your virgin coins. Because in Bitcoin, origin isn’t everything—but it might just be worth 20% more. You can sign up to receive emails each time I publish. Get an email whenever Michael Di Fulvio publishes. Here is the link to the original Bitcoin White Paper: Become a Medium member… Stories from MP Di Fulvio: Membership: Dollar-Cost-Average Bitcoin ($10 Free Bitcoin): DCA-SWAN Access to our high-net-worth Bitcoin investor technical services is available now: cccCloud We solely intend this content for informational purposes. It is not a substitute for professional financial or legal counsel. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information, so we recommend consulting a qualified financial advisor before making any substantial financial commitments. 🧬 Virgin Bitcoin: Provenance, Premiums, and Protocol-Level Identification was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story

Author: Medium
Dialogue with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink: Bitcoin is a hedge against an uncertain future

Dialogue with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink: Bitcoin is a hedge against an uncertain future

Legends Live @Citi with Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock Guest: Larry Fink, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock Moderator: Leon Kalvaria, Chairman of Citigroup Global Bank Compiled and edited by LenaXin and ChainCatcher ChainCatcher Editor's Summary This article is compiled from the latest episode of Legends Conversation @Citi, in which Leon Kalvaria, Chairman of Citi Global Bank, speaks with Larry Fink, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of BlackRock. As of the video's release, BlackRock's assets under management have reached $12.5 trillion. How did Larry achieve this? In this episode, Larry will share his unique insights on leadership, themes from his career, and his experiences in creating a brilliant journey. ChainCatcher did the collation and compilation. Summary of highlights: What really changed Wall Street was the personal computer. The profound lessons learned were: First, we thought we had a top-notch team and market knowledge, but our thinking did not evolve with the market; second, when competing with Salomon Brothers, we were blinded by the ambition to gain market share. The foundation of the firm is the development of risk tools, and BlackRock’s culture is deeply rooted in risk technology. Artificial intelligence and financial asset tokenization will reshape future investment and asset management The essence of the asset management industry is results-oriented Investors need to seek out information that is not fully understood by the market; old news is no longer able to generate excess returns. If active investing were effective, ETFs would never have taken off. If the US economic growth rate cannot sustainably reach 3%, the deficit problem will overwhelm the country. As long as assets and liabilities are matched and deleveraged, losses will not spread into a systemic crisis. Bitcoin is a hedge against an uncertain future Only by fully committing to the whole process can we continue to have the qualifications for dialogue and the right to speak in the industry (1) How did Larry’s upbringing shape his leadership? Leon Kalvaria: How did your family background shape your unique worldview and risk-taking ability, ultimately leading to excellence with a global perspective? Larry Fink: My parents were truly remarkable. They were socialists, open-minded, and they valued two things above all else: academic achievement and personal responsibility. They often told me, " If you're not happy as an adult , don't blame your parents; blame yourself. " This indoctrination taught me the importance of independence from a young age. Starting at age 10, I worked in a shoe store, an experience that taught me how to connect with customers and build relationships. While it's uncommon for children to work so young these days, that time helped me mature early and teach me to take responsibility. It wasn't until I was 15 that I truly began to plan a more purposeful life. Leon Kalvaria: How did your West Coast academic background help you transition into a leader within an established company? Larry Fink: I first saw snow in January 1976 during a job interview in New York. I was a typical West Coast teenager, wearing turquoise jewelry, long hair, and a brown suit. Of all the firms, First Boston was the most appealing to me. They offered a personalized training program, and the trading leaders felt very approachable. They even assigned me directly to the trading desk, which was unusual at the time. Wall Street back then was completely different from what it is today. In 1976, First Boston hired only 14 people. The combined capital of all Wall Street investment banks at the time, including Goldman Sachs, Loblolly, Kuhn Loeb, Lehman Brothers, Whitewell, Merrill Lynch, and others (excluding commercial banks), was only about $200 million. At the time, investment banks operated like cottage industries, taking almost no risk. Balance sheet expansion only began after 1976. Within my first month on the trading floor, I was convinced I was qualified for the job. After my training, I was assigned to the Mortgage and Guarantee Department, which consisted of only three people, which was very exciting. (2) Larry's entrepreneurial journey Leon Kalvaria: What fundamental new understandings of finance and risk did your early experience in securitization give you? Larry Fink: What really changed Wall Street was the personal computer. Before that, there were tools like the Monroe calculator or the HP-12C. In 1983, the mortgage department was equipped with a few computers. Although they were primitive by today's standards, they allowed us to completely rethink how we assembled mortgage pools and calculated their cash flow characteristics. The ability to restructure cash flows by processing real-time data launched the securitization process. While many calculations were still done manually, the application of trading-level technology gave rise to derivatives like interest rate swaps. Wall Street was forever transformed. An important factor in the establishment of BlackRock was that the sell-side technology was always ahead of the buy-side technology. Leon Kalvaria: What was the most unexpected lesson you learned, and what insights did you gain that may have shaped your subsequent leadership at BlackRock? Larry Fink: Let me tell you about my career trajectory. I became the youngest managing director at the age of 27, joined the company's executive committee at the age of 31, and became insufferable at the age of 34 because of my arrogance. Back then, the team-first philosophy only worked when we were profitable. In 1984-1985, we were the company's most profitable division, even setting a quarterly record. But then we suddenly suffered a $100 million loss in the second quarter of 1986. This exposed the root of the problem: We were hailed as heroes when we were profitable, but when we lost money, 80% of our employees stopped supporting us . The so-called team spirit completely collapsed. I learned two hard lessons: first, I thought I had a top-notch team and market knowledge, but my thinking didn't evolve with the market; second, when competing with Salomon Brothers, I was blinded by my ambition to gain market share. Lou was fired a year before me for the same mistake, but I didn't learn from it. I've never been able to forgive myself for not speaking out forcefully when the company was blindly adding capital. We lacked risk management tools, yet we took on risks no one knew about. This experience of failure ultimately became the soil that nurtured BlackRock's growth. Leon Kalvaria: What keeps you convinced that entrepreneurship can succeed despite widespread skepticism and personal setbacks? Larry Fink: That experience definitely eroded my confidence. Although I spent a year and a half rebuilding my career, and received several partner offers from Wall Street firms during that time, I felt it wasn't right to repeat my old path. So I began exploring the possibility of transitioning to a buy-side market. Two key clients were willing to fund my startup, but I wasn't confident enough to start on my own, so I reached out to Steve Schwarzman. First Boston had helped raise some of Blackstone's first fund (approximately $545 million), and I had helped fund it, leveraging our relationships with thrift institutions. Bruce Wasserstein introduced me to Steve and Pete. They were very interested in the idea I proposed, and in fact, Steve believed in me more than I did, and I eventually became the fourth partner of Blackstone. The weekend after I resigned, I held an open house at my home. About 60 to 70 people showed up to discuss my new plans. I told some of them directly, "You'll thrive after I leave." The company was going through a period of disintegration, with some leaving and some staying, but this candor helped all parties find a more suitable path forward. (3) The Development and Importance of Aladdin Technology Leon Kalvaria: What were the key factors in BlackRock's selection to provide key advisory services to the US government during the financial crisis? Did Aladdin's early deployment of technology provide a decisive advantage? Larry Fink: When we started the company, we had two technologists out of eight people. We invested $25,000 in a SunSpark workstation, which had just been released in 1988. This allowed us to develop our own risk tools at BlackRock. From day one, the foundation of the firm has been developing risk tools, and BlackRock’s culture is deeply rooted in risk technology. When Kidder Peabody, a subsidiary of General Electric (GE), went bankrupt in 1994, we leveraged our long-standing partnership with GE to proactively offer assistance to CEO Jack Welch and CFO Dennis Damerman. While Goldman Sachs was widely expected to be hired, we, leveraging our Aladdin system, were entrusted with liquidating its troubled assets. I stated that I didn't need consulting fees and would pay after success. After nine months of operation, the asset portfolio finally became profitable, and GE ultimately paid the highest consulting fee in its history. I wanted my investment team to be able to establish themselves based on their own success and capabilities, and I wanted Aladdin to be able to compete and win against anyone. We decided to open the Aladdin system to all our customers and competitors. In 2003, we encountered the financial crisis. Leveraging our trusted relationship with the U.S. government and regulators, we shared a common philosophy in multiple rescue efforts. Bear Stearns was hired by JPMorgan Chase (JP) to analyze its asset portfolio over the weekend. While urgently assisting JP with risk assessments on Friday and Saturday, I was allowed to communicate simultaneously with Hack from the Treasury Department and Tim from the Federal Reserve. At 6 a.m. on Sunday morning, Tim called and asked for support. I responded that we needed to get permission from JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie before we could transition to government service. To expedite the process, we were directly hired by the U.S. government. The Treasury Secretary asked, "Will American taxpayers lose money from taking over the assets?" I suggested that principal and interest be included in the calculation, because the assets had been significantly written down and the interest rate was extremely high, so taxpayers would most likely get their money back. Since then, we have been hired to handle the restructuring of AIG and the crisis responses of the governments of the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Canada. (Note: American International Group is referred to as AIG.) (4) What is the purpose of the annual letter to shareholders? Leon Kalvaria: What's the core rationale behind the annual shareholder letter you've written since 2012? Is it to document key milestones, provide insights to investors, or perhaps make a strategic statement? Larry Fink: Beyond a few core themes, I never intended these letters to be manifestos. I wouldn't have written them if we hadn't acquired BGI in 2009 to become the world's largest index provider. At the time, we assumed significant equity management responsibilities, but only had voting rights, not disposal rights . This is consistent with the concept discussed by Warren. The core of the first few letters was to promote "long-termism" and think about long-term trends for long-term investors . This was the whole original intention. (Note: Leon Kalvaria jokingly called Larry Fink's shareholder letter a companion piece to Warren Buffett's letter.) (V) Major trends in reshaping asset management in the future Leon Kalvaria: From your perspective, what are the major trends that you see that will reshape your investments and asset management in the future? Larry Fink: Artificial Intelligence and the Tokenization of Financial Assets. During lunch today with a former Treasury Secretary and central bank governor, he privately admitted that the banking industry has been left behind by technology in many areas . Brazil's New Bank's innovative practices are spreading to Mexico, and digital platforms like Germany's Trade Republic are also disrupting traditional practices. These cases demonstrate the power of technology to transform. The disruptive nature of AI can be better understood by considering how it is transforming big data analytics . For example, BlackRock established an AI lab at Stanford in 2017, employing a team of professors to develop optimization algorithms. We manage $12.5 trillion in assets and process a massive volume of transactions, but technological innovation is driving us back to our roots of responsibility. Leon Kalvaria: These tools will be made available to the public. How can we ensure transparency and accountability while maintaining BlackRock's advantages? Larry Fink: Early-stage scale operators will have an advantage, which makes me worried about society as a whole. Large institutions that can afford the cost of AI technology will become the dominant ones. However, as second-generation AI becomes ubiquitous, our competitive advantage will be challenged. BlackRock's current advantage is far greater than it was a year ago or five years ago. Our investment in technology has reached a massive scale, with all of our operations underpinned by a technology architecture, including transaction processing, process optimization, M&A integration, and a unified technology platform. The scale of our investment far exceeds public perception. Leon Kalvaria: How do the three major acquisitions in the private equity sector (Prequin, HBS, and Bio) reshape investors' asset allocation landscape in the private equity market? Larry Fink: Today's earnings call reaffirmed the importance of ongoing transformation. While the 2009 acquisition of BGI (including iShares) sparked market skepticism, the strategy of "passive and active integration with full portfolio focus" has proven successful—iShares' size has leapt from $340 billion to nearly $5 trillion. By 2023, BlackRock's private equity business will have grown significantly, with infrastructure investment increasing from zero to $50 billion and private credit expanding rapidly. This unexpected surge in client demand has driven innovation, accelerating the integration of public and private equity. Technological advances will facilitate the free allocation of public and private assets, a trend that will extend to all institutional investors and even 401(k) plans. The acquisition of Prequin cost only one-third of that of its peers, but it is a key strategy: by integrating the E-Front private equity analysis platform and the Aladdin public equity system, it has established full-chain risk control capabilities for public and private assets, facilitating investment portfolio integration and deepening customer dialogue. Leon Kalvaria: What is the current state of retirement funding? Larry Fink: If you can earn 50 basis points over 30 years, your returns in the private equity market will exceed that over the long term, otherwise the liquidity risk is not worth taking. In total, your portfolio can increase by 18%. Four months ago, BlackRock hosted a retirement summit in Washington, D.C., with 50 members of Congress and the Speaker of the House of Representatives among the guests. As administrator of the federal government's retirement plans, we manage 50% of the $12.5 trillion in retirement assets. (VI) Relationships with Global Leaders and Strategic Influence Leon Kalvaria: When global leaders seek your personal advice on financial and geopolitical issues, how do you combine your investment expertise with your geopolitical risk assessment? Larry Fink: Building trust is fundamental. Since 2008, central bank governors and finance ministers have made it a practice to have in-depth conversations with me, all held behind closed doors. While there are no formal confidentiality agreements, the trust is similar to my interactions with CEOs, where the core of the conversation is confidentiality. These conversations always focus on substantive issues . I'm not always right, but my views are always grounded in history and facts. Leon Kalvaria: You have been a mentor to so many leaders for a long time, and this unique communication channel is rare. Larry Fink: The asset management industry is inherently results-oriented . We don't profit by capital turnover or trading volume, but rather by concrete results. We are deeply involved in retirement systems around the world (we are the third-largest retirement management company in Mexico, the largest foreign-invested retirement management company in Japan, and the largest pension fund manager in the UK), so we maintain a focus on long-term issues. This kind of influence cannot be replicated; it's built on years of trust . I proactively meet with new leaders (such as Claudia in Mexico and Kiel in Germany) before they take office to ensure a smooth flow of information, which is a reflection of our unique value. Leon Kalvaria: When you look back at your recent career, who have been your mentors and influences? Larry Fink: When we went public in 1999, BlackRock's market capitalization was only $700 million. We immediately attracted senior directors like Merrill Lynch CEO Dave Kamansky and General Electric's Dennis Damerman. Our board of directors has always been a core pillar of our organization. When we acquired Merrill Lynch Investment Management, we transitioned from a US-based fixed income firm to a global operation in 40 countries. During this time, I repeatedly discussed our management model with the board. Today, the board remains crucial, with Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins providing technical insights and former Estée Lauder CEO Fabrizio Freda contributing marketing wisdom. These multidisciplinary experts allow me to continue to rely on the board to drive progress. (VII) Audience Question Session Q: How will AI reshape the future investment paradigm? How do you think different investment strategies (for both individual investors and institutions) will evolve? Where will this trend head in the future? Larry Fink: Every investor needs to seek out information that the market doesn't fully understand. Traditional information (old news) no longer generates excess returns. Artificial intelligence generates unique insights by analyzing differentiated data sets. Our systematic equity team has consistently outperformed the market for 12 years. Its thematic investment strategy, based on AI algorithms and big data, has outperformed 95% of fundamental stock pickers over the past decade. But like baseball, maintaining a 30% batting average is incredibly difficult, and achieving it for five consecutive years is even rarer. Only a select few investors consistently outperform. Most fundamental investors experience dismal returns after fees, which is the core of the decline in the active management industry. If active investing truly worked, ETFs would never have taken off. Traditional asset management companies face depressed market capitalizations. Many of our peers listed in 2004 have market capitalizations of only $5 billion to $20 billion, while BlackRock's is $170 billion. This is due to our inability to invest in technological upgrades. The gap between us and traditional agencies will continue to widen. Leon Kalvaria: What is the most underestimated black swan risk in the current market? If the US economic growth rate cannot be maintained at 3% (even if inflation is controlled), what systemic crises may be triggered? Larry Fink: If the US economic growth rate cannot continue to reach 3%, the deficit problem will overwhelm the country . The deficit was $8 trillion in 2000, soared to $36 trillion 25 years later, and continues to worsen. Only by maintaining 3% growth can the debt/GDP ratio be controlled. However, the market is skeptical. The deeper risks lie in: 1. 20% of US debt is held by foreign countries. If tariff policies lead to isolationism, dollar holdings may decrease; 2. The development of domestic capital markets in many countries (e.g., BlackRock raising $2 billion in India and Saudi Arabia launching MBS business) has resulted in domestic savings being retained in the country, weakening the appeal of US Treasuries; 3. Stablecoins and currency digitization may reduce the global role of the US dollar. The solution lies in releasing private capital and simplifying the approval process . Countries such as Japan and Italy are also facing deficit crises caused by low growth. While black swan events are possible in the private credit sector, higher matching ratios mean that systemic risk in the current capital market is lower than in previous years. As long as assets and liabilities are matched and deleveraging is achieved, losses will not escalate into a systemic crisis. (8) Why did Larry’s attitude towards digital assets change? Leon Kalvaria: What were the key factors behind your evolving stance on digital assets, particularly stablecoins? Has your perspective changed due to the unexpected speed at which other institutions have embraced the space? Larry Fink: I harshly criticized Bitcoin in a discussion with Jamie Dimon, calling it a "currency for money laundering and theft." That was my view in 2017. But my reflections and research during the pandemic changed my perspective: an Afghan woman used Bitcoin to pay the salaries of female workers banned by the Taliban. With the banking system under control, cryptocurrency became a solution. I gradually realized the irreplaceable value of the blockchain technology behind Bitcoin. It's not a currency, but a "fear asset" designed to mitigate systemic risk. People hold Bitcoin out of concern for national security and currency devaluation. Even though 20% of Bitcoin is held illegally in China, it's still held by Chinese citizens. If you don’t believe that your assets will appreciate in value over the next 20-30 years, why invest? Bitcoin is a hedge against an uncertain future. The high-risk and rapidly changing environment requires us to continue learning. 9. Larry’s Leadership Principles Q: What are your core leadership principles? How do you maintain leadership consistency, especially when facing dramatic industry changes and needing to flexibly adjust strategies? Larry Fink: Daily learning is essential. Stagnation means falling behind. There's no pause button when leading a large enterprise; you have to give it your all. To be the best, you must constantly challenge yourself and hold your team to the same standard. I've been in the industry for 50 years, and I still strive to be at my best every day. Ultimately, only by fully committing to the process can one maintain a position of authority and a voice in the industry . This right must be earned daily and should never be taken for granted.

Author: PANews
XRP Price Prediction: Is Triple-Digit Target Incoming?

XRP Price Prediction: Is Triple-Digit Target Incoming?

The post XRP Price Prediction: Is Triple-Digit Target Incoming? appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. The post XRP Price Prediction: Is Triple-Digit Target Incoming? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News XRP is once again at the heart of one of crypto’s favorite pastimes: daring price predictions. For years it has hovered in the low single digits, recently clinging to the $3 range. But in some corners of the market, people are starting to talk about something far bigger — $50, $75, even $100 XRP. A Setup for a Moonshot? Expert Paul Barron recently walked through a scenario that could send XRP flying. If spot crypto ETFs keep gaining approval, if Congress moves forward with a market structure bill, if Ripple lands the right banking licenses, and if big partnerships start dropping — all of that together, he argued, could light the fuse. In his words, XRP could push “upwards of $50 and above.” Some even whisper about triple digits. And even with a correction afterward, Barron said, the math would look very different than it does today. “If XRP hit $75 and then cut in half, you’re still looking at $37,” he explained. “Compare that to $3 today. That’s a 10x jump, even after the pullback.” The Volatility Warning Not everyone is cheering without warning. Digital asset strategist Zach Rector, who has over 90 percent of his portfolio in XRP, told listeners that wild swings are part of the ride. “If your stomach is turning after XRP drops from $3.66 to $2.72, buckle up,” Rector said. “Because you’re about to get shaken up like never before.” .article-inside-link { margin-left: 0 !important; border: 1px solid #0052CC4D; border-left: 0; border-right: 0; padding: 10px 0; text-align: left; } .entry ul.article-inside-link li { font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; font-weight: 600; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0; display: inline-block; } .entry ul.article-inside-link li:last-child { display: none; } Also Read :   XRP Price…

Author: BitcoinEthereumNews
Chainlink Surges 3% to $24 After U.S. Government Data Partnership and Bitwise ETF Filing

Chainlink Surges 3% to $24 After U.S. Government Data Partnership and Bitwise ETF Filing

The post Chainlink Surges 3% to $24 After U.S. Government Data Partnership and Bitwise ETF Filing appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. Chainlink Surges 3% to $24 After U.S. Government Data Partnership and Bitwise ETF Filing Disclaimer: The information found on NewsBTC is for educational purposes only. It does not represent the opinions of NewsBTC on whether to buy, sell or hold any investments and naturally investing carries risks. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use information provided on this website entirely at your own risk. Related News © 2025 NewsBTC. All Rights Reserved. This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy Center or Cookie Policy. I Agree Source: https://www.newsbtc.com/chainlink-news/chainlink-surges-3-to-24-after-u-s-government-data-partnership-and-bitwise-etf-filing/

Author: BitcoinEthereumNews
Bitcoin Correction Could Deepen Before Recovery as Only 9% of Supply at Loss

Bitcoin Correction Could Deepen Before Recovery as Only 9% of Supply at Loss

Bitcoin’s pullback from recent all-time highs is much shallower than in previous years, meaning that it could have further to go before recovery.

Author: CryptoPotato
Ethereum Foundation Offloads 10K ETH to Support Development and Community Growth

Ethereum Foundation Offloads 10K ETH to Support Development and Community Growth

EF will sell 10,000 ETH to fund research, development, and community, with planned smaller conversions to minimize market disruption. With a short-term price could dip slightly, but could the long-term impact looks minimal; with staking and burns, ETH could climb toward $5,000 by year-end of 2025. In line with a Crypto News Flash (CNF) report [...]]]>

Author: Crypto News Flash
Ethereum spot ETFs saw a total net outflow of $135 million yesterday, while none of the nine ETFs saw a net inflow

Ethereum spot ETFs saw a total net outflow of $135 million yesterday, while none of the nine ETFs saw a net inflow

PANews reported on September 3 that according to SoSoValue data, the Ethereum spot ETF had a total net outflow of US$135 million yesterday (September 2, US Eastern Time). The Ethereum spot ETF with the largest single-day net outflow yesterday was the Fidelity ETF FETH, with a single-day net outflow of US$99.2333 million. The current historical total net inflow of FETH has reached US$2.666 billion. The second is Bitwise ETF ETHW, with a single-day net outflow of US$24.2249 million. Currently, ETHW's total historical net inflow has reached US$411 million. As of press time, the total net asset value of the Ethereum spot ETF was US$27.986 billion, the ETF net asset ratio (market value as a percentage of Ethereum's total market value) reached 5.38%, and the historical cumulative net inflow has reached US$13.378 billion.

Author: PANews