Bitcoin
Bitcoin ETFs Gain Ground as Morgan Stanley Holds $272 Million
Morgan Stanley disclosed that it holds $272.1 million worth of Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds), highlighting the financial institution’s increasing stake in the pioneer crypto.
This investment draws attention to the broader trend of major financial players exploring digital assets as part of their portfolio diversification strategies.
Morgan Stanley Holds $272.1 Million Worth Bitcoin ETF
The American multinational investment bank and financial services company’s investment reflects the growing interest of institutional investors in cryptocurrency. This revelation came through a regulatory filing submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The $272.1 million stake is a substantial figure even for a company with $1.2 trillion in assets under management (AUM). This investment represents only about 0.02% of the company’s overall portfolio. Nevertheless, it is notable as part of a wider trend of institutional adoption of Bitcoin and other digital assets.
The filing comes amid a broader move by top-tier financial firms. As BeInCrypto reported, Goldman Sachs and DRW Capital disclosed $600 million in combined spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF holdings. The report specified that Goldman Sachs holds $410 million in Bitcoin ETFs, with major investments in BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC.
Taken together, these investments indicate that traditional financial (TradFi) institutions are increasingly comfortable with crypto. It signals that Bitcoin ETFs, in particular, are becoming a critical component of their long-term investment strategies.
Read more: What Is a Bitcoin ETF?
The growing interest in Bitcoin (BTC) among institutional investors is a strong indicator of its increasing acceptance as a legitimate asset class. Bitcoin ETFs offer a regulated and relatively low-risk way for institutions to gain exposure to Bitcoin without directly purchasing the underlying asset.
By investing in Bitcoin ETFs, companies like Morgan Stanley participate in the expanding cryptocurrency ecosystem while managing risk in a more familiar regulatory framework.
Morgan Stanley’s move into Bitcoin ETFs is not its first foray into digital assets after an initial application in 2021. The investment bank has also steadily increased its involvement in cryptocurrency-related products over the past few years.
Earlier in 2024, Morgan Stanley became one of the largest holders of Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), a prominent Bitcoin investment vehicle. Its holdings in GBTC suggest a broader strategy to capitalize on the growing institutional demand for crypto assets.
Impact of Bitcoin ETF Adoption on the BTC Market
Morgan Stanley’s investment in Bitcoin ETFs, alongside that of other TradFi players in the space, could have a profound influence. Even a modest allocation of capital from large institutions into Bitcoin-related products has the potential to drive up demand, which could push the BTC price higher.
“If crypto demand rises and Bitcoin gains more acceptance, a 1% allocation by Morgan Stanley could significantly boost the market. Institutional adoption often starts small, but growth will depend on market trends, regulatory clarity, and investor interest. If Bitcoin proves to be a resilient asset and solid portfolio diversifier, scaling up could happen faster than expected,” wrote MAG212 in an X post.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s value has risen 12.2% over the last seven days, bringing its price to $67,771 as of writing. With growing institutional interest in Bitcoin ETFs and significant inflows into these funds, the pioneer crypto could see further gains.
On October 14, for example, the Bitcoin ETF market recorded its highest daily inflow of $555.86 million since June 4. This highlights the increasing demand from investors.
As of October 17, the total net assets of spot Bitcoin ETFs were $64.06 billion. This includes major players like BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), and Fidelity’s Bitcoin ETF (FBTC). The growing adoption of these funds by financial institutions is a key development in the integration of Bitcoin into TradFi.
Read more: How To Trade a Bitcoin ETF: A Step-by-Step Approach.
Meanwhile, as more institutions like Morgan Stanley invest in Bitcoin ETFs, the line between TradFi and cryptocurrency continues to blur. The trend suggests that Bitcoin and other digital assets may become more mainstream.
This is as institutional investors seek new avenues for growth and diversification in an increasingly complex financial environment.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Bitcoin
$81k Bitcoin Sparks Frenzy – Google Searches Reach All-Time High
Bitcoin isn’t just making a spectacular run in the market of late, with its price hitting over $81,000, another all-time high. According to Google Trends, Bitcoin searches on its search engine have surged by nearly 60% in just one day, as the digital asset’s price continue to soar.
Google Trends figures show searches for BTC last November 10th were up from 37 points compared to the previous day. There has been a notable increase in search volume for the term, which coincides with the asset’s market run, which started at around $70k and went up to $80k.
Its futures premiums also surged. Also, open interest in the alpha coin’s price topping $90k increased to $2.8 billion at the Deribi derivatives exchange, a popular platform for futures trading.
Bitcoin search result in the past week. Source: Google Trends
Bitcoin’s Price Run Boosting Google Searches
Thanks to its recent bullish price action, interest in Bitcoin is coming back. According to Google Trends, interest in the asset started on October 27. Using a 90-day scale, global data suggests that the “Bitcoin” search term hit 51 out of 100 last October 30th.
Google Trends uses a scale of 1 to 100 to measure interest in search terms and track these terms by location over time. In the past three months, El Salvador has been the top location in South America for “Bitcoin” searches.
BTC market cap currently at $1.6 trillion. Chart: TradingView.com
Interest In BTC Peaked A Day After US Elections
According to Google Trends, interest in the popular digital asset rose last November 6th. Online searches for the term netted 100 points during that day, coinciding with the asset’s price hitting $75,639, an increase of 9% from the previous day’s price.
Source: Bitstamp
By November 7th, interest levels on the term slightly dropped to just 55 points. Also, web searches for BTC dipped in the following days to just 44 and 37 points. On November 10th, the search term came back, with interest levels at 58 points.
Many analysts have tied Google Trends data to BTC price action. Currently, BTC trades for $80,500, reflecting an increase of 4% in the last 24 hours and a 16% increase in a week. Also, searches for Bitcoin-related news increased last November 10th, registering 91 points from the previous day’s 40, showing a 56% increase. Even YouTube searches for the crypto increased by 92 points.
Bitcoin Continues Rally, Gets Favorable Market Acceptance Under Trump
Bitcoin hit another all-time high this November 10th, suggesting increasing confidence in the incoming (and second) Trump administration. During the elections, Trump was seen as the pro-crypto candidate with friendly policy proposals.
Initially, Trump tagged Bitcoin and cryptocurrency as scams. However, during this year’s campaign, Trump changed his tune and adopted a more friendly stance on cryptocurrencies. In one of his public speeches, Trump pitched for a Bitcoin stockpile for the US and even launched a cryptocurrency platform, The World Liberty Financial.
Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
Bitcoin
Anthony Pompliano Says Why Trump Must Keep Bitcoin Reserve Promise
Founder and CEO of Professional Capital Management Anthony Pompliano has emphasized the importance of Donald Trump setting up a national Bitcoin (BTC) reserve. The entrepreneur has also shared some thoughts on the selection of the next SEC chairman which may hold more weight for altcoins than Bitcoin.
There’s A Global Race Underway For Bitcoin – Pompliano
In a recent interview with Yahoo Finance, Anthony Pompliano commented on the crypto market’s buoyant reaction to Trump’s electoral victory.
According to Pompliano, investors believe the Republican President-elect and are highly confident in his willingness to implement all crypto-related manifestos. He explains that this belief is backed by recent price surges as investors are getting into positions and allocating resources to enjoy the benefits of Donald Trump’s promised crypto-friendly administration.
Anthony Pompliano states it is vital the incoming US President sticks to his words, especially in regard to the national Bitcoin reserve. In this regard, he highlights that it is not only important the US retains its current Bitcoin tokens, but also actively acquires more of the crypto.
According to Pompliano, this buying strategy is needed as there is a global race for Bitcoin at the moment, which is proving to be a strong hedge against inflation. Therefore, the US local, state, and federal governments must aim to get involved and acquire as many Bitcoins as possible.
Just like Bhutan with a $1 billion BTC sheet, Pompliano is urging Trump to follow suit but on a larger scale of $100 billion BTC which he claims is small compared to the US national spending.
Pompliano: No Preferred Candidate For New SEC Chair
When commenting on Donald Trump’s appointments, Anthony Pompliano has stated he has no favorite candidate to be chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
With Gary Gensler’s hectic regime approaching a fast end, the boss at Professional Capital Management states the new SEC Chair must be “smart, prudent and pro-crypto”.
Interestingly, Pompliano also aligns with the interviewer’s sentiments that this new appointment and the SEC’s policy moving forward will hold more regulatory implications for altcoins than Bitcoin. He explains that Bitcoin, while being the king of the crypto market, has already gained enough regulatory clarity, same with Ethereum. Therefore, altcoins especially those with ETF applications such as Solana are set to gain from any improved regulatory system.
At the time of writing, Gary Gensler’s replacement remains unknown with multiple candidates reportedly in consideration. These candidates include Wall Street lawyer Richard Farley, Robinhood Chief Legal Officer Dan Gallagher, former SEC Commissioner Chris Giancarlo, and former SEC General Counsel Robert Stebbins among others.
Featured image from IQ.wiki, chart from Tradingview
Bitcoin
MicroStrategy Rises in Financial Rankings With $26B Bitcoin Stash
MicroStrategy’s decision to shift from traditional cash reserves to Bitcoin has reshaped its financial profile, catapulting the company into the spotlight as a leader in digital asset adoption.
This transformation coincides with Bitcoin’s recent surge to unprecedented price levels, significantly boosting MicroStrategy’s standing in corporate financial rankings.
Bitcoin-Focused MicroStrategy Outshines IBM and Nike in Asset Reserves
The company’s Bitcoin stash, now valued at approximately $26 billion, reportedly surpasses the cash and liquid assets held by giants like IBM, Nike, and Johnson & Johnson. For comparison, CompaniesMarketCap data shows that Nike’s reported cash and securities totaled $10.9 billion as of August, while IBM held $13.7 billion. Johnson & Johnson’s latest quarterly figures listed $20.29 billion.
This financial position shows that the niche software provider has redefined its identity by embracing Bitcoin as a core financial asset. However, despite this impressive position, MicroStrategy still trails around 14 companies, including Apple and Alphabet, in terms of corporate treasury assets.
The company began acquiring Bitcoin in 2020 as a countermeasure against inflation and declining revenue growth. Initially funded through operational cash flow, these purchases expanded to include capital raised via stock sales and convertible debt issuance.
To date, MicroStrategy has amassed 279,240 BTC at an average acquisition cost of $42,888, with a total investment of roughly $11.9 billion. This positions the firm as the largest publicly traded Bitcoin holder, controlling around 1.3% of the cryptocurrency’s total supply.
What initially faced skepticism has now become a major draw for investors seeking indirect exposure to Bitcoin. The shift in sentiment has propelled MicroStrategy’s stock by over 2,500% since 2020. This aligns with Bitcoin’s remarkable 700% price growth during the same timeframe.
Currently, the unrealized profit of MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin holdings stands at $13.4 billion, representing a 112% increase. The firm’s Bitcoin yield — measuring the relationship between its Bitcoin holdings and outstanding shares — has risen 26.4% year-to-date.
However, MicroStrategy’s executive chairman, Michael Saylor, remains steadfast in the company’s Bitcoin-centric vision. The firm plans to raise $42 billion over the coming years to expand its Bitcoin holdings further. Meanwhile, MicroStrategy aims to transform into a trillion-dollar Bitcoin bank, solidifying its role as a pioneer in corporate Bitcoin adoption.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
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