cryptocurrencies

After touching record highs earlier this year, #bitcoin and many major #cryptocurrencies fell into a bear market in November.#CPIWatch

Prices of bitcoin were at $92,000, and prices for ether were hovering just under $3,200 as of Thursday. This drop may have investors wondering if they should rethink how much of their individual portfolios should be in the digital assets.#BinanceBlockchainWeek
Edward Hadad, a financial planner at Financial Asset Management Corp., recommends that speculative assets like crypto or gold should not exceed more than 5% of a person’s portfolio, regardless of market conditions.$BTC
“Our philosophy is to invest in a well-diversified portfolio of stock and bond funds and ETFs, which does not include direct positions in crypto, gold

or individual stocks,” he said. For clients who want to own crypto, “it’s a conversation, but we strongly recommend in most cases to limit it to 1%-5% of their total assets,” Hadad said.$ETH

He adds that his recommendations don’t change with price swings of an asset like bitcoin, which is already a volatile asset.
“There’s going to be some individuality to each portfolio,” Clifford Cornell, a certified financial planner at Bone Fide Wealth, told MarketWatch about the recent market shifts in bitcoin, as well as gold. “Any changes for a portfolio, I always try to figure out if FOMO (fear of missing out) is the main driver.”

Cornell suggests that instead of a blanket recommendation for those interested in assets outside of stocks and bonds, they consider a separate “opportunity portfolio” for growth investing in these alternate assets, which are not dependent on market swings.
“We never shy away from allowing clients [to invest] if they feel strongly about bitcoin, gold or an individual stock,” he said.
Cornell also noted that any alternate asset investment that makes up 15% of a person’s portfolio is too “hefty.”#USJobsData
In a shift, some major financial services companies are now giving recommendations on cryptocurrency allocation, reflecting growing client demand and the mainstreaming of crypto through regulated ETFs and online trading platforms.
They, too, are generally suggesting a conservative approach for investors.
On Tuesday, Bank of America started recommending a 1% to 4% crypto allocation for its wealth management clients, marking a significant shift in how one of the country’s largest financial institutions approaches crypto exposure, according to Yahoo Finance. The guidance applies across Merrill, Bank of America Private Bank and Merrill Edge.@DXC Foundation
“Our guidance emphasizes regulated vehicles, thoughtful allocation, and a clear understanding of both the opportunities and risks,” Chris Hyzy, chief investment officer at Bank of America Private Bank, said in a statement.@DJ史珍香 @K A M I L
Morgan Stanley’s Global Investment Committee, for example, issued a paper in October recommending a maximum crypto allocation of 4%. The committee characterized the asset class as “speculative and increasingly popular,” comparing bitcoin specifically to “digital gold” due to its scarcity.@Hannah_汉娜 @陌上花开Hawk
Similarly, BlackRock’s Investment Institute suggested a 1% to 2% allocation to bitcoin for 2024. Writers from Fidelity’s investment blog offered a slightly higher range, suggesting that a 2% to 5% portfolio allocation might be appropriate for bitcoin, and potentially up to 7.5% for younger investors.$SOL

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Furthermore, Morgan Stanley is expanding its services to allow retirement accounts to hold crypto for the first time. It will use automated monitoring processes to help ensure clients don’t become overly exposed to the volatile digital asset class. However, the financial planners who spoke to MarketWatch regarding this development were discussing potential crypto exposure in traditional brokerage accounts, not retirement accounts.

Sony Bank is preparing to roll out a U.S.-regulated dollar-backed stablecoin by 2026, according to reports. The company is working with Bastion and expanding its Web3 ecosystem, aiming to enable crypto payment options across platforms — including future PlayStation services.

Sony Bank — the digital banking arm under Sony Financial Group — is reportedly gearing up to introduce a U.S.-based stablecoin designed to support payments across Sony’s broad entertainment network.

According to a Monday report from Nikkei, Sony aims to debut a dollar-backed stablecoin in 2026. Once released, the token could be used to purchase PlayStation games and subscriptions, as well as anime content within Sony’s digital platforms.

With U.S. consumers accounting for nearly 30% of Sony Group’s global revenue, the company sees the stablecoin as a way to streamline payments and cut down on credit card processing fees by offering an alternative payment method.

To move the plan forward, Sony Bank filed for a U.S. banking license in October in order to set up a subsidiary focused specifically on stablecoin operations. The bank is also collaborating with Bastion — a U.S.-regulated stablecoin issuer — and Sony’s venture capital arm recently participated in Bastion’s $14.6 million funding round led by Coinbase Ventures.

Sony Bank’s Expansion Into Web3

The push toward a U.S. stablecoin fits into Sony Bank’s broader strategy to grow its Web3 footprint. In June, the bank launched a dedicated Web3 division to accelerate its blockchain-related initiatives.

“Blockchain-powered digital assets are becoming a part of many emerging services and business models,” Sony Bank noted in a statement published in May.

The bank added that financial tools such as wallets for storing NFTs and crypto assets, along with crypto exchange services, are becoming increasingly critical as Web3 adoption expands.

In June 2025, Sony Bank launched a dedicated Web3 subsidiary with an initial investment of 300 million yen (around $1.9 million), according to the bank. The division, now called BlockBloom, is designed to create an ecosystem integrating fans, artists, NFTs, digital and physical experiences, and both fiat and digital currencies.

Related: Animoca plans to expand into stablecoins, AI, and DePIN in 2026, says executive.

The stablecoin project comes after Sony Financial Group — Sony Bank’s parent company — spun off from Sony Group and became independently listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in September. The separation was intended to streamline operations and allow both the financial arm and the broader Sony conglomerate to focus on their strategic priorities.

Cointelegraph reached out to Sony Bank for comment on its potential U.S. stablecoin launch but had not received a reply by the time this article was published.
#cryptocurrencies #StablecoinNews #Asia #games #Sony

Bitcoin-spot ETFs in the U.S. have outperformed gold ETFs in terms of assets under management (AUM), marking a historic shift as investors embrace bitcoin as a new store of value.

Bitcoin-spot ETFs in the U. S. have outperformed gold ETFs in terms of assets under management (AUM) and sparked a major shift in investor preference. The move reflects the growing popularity of #bitcoin as a modern alternative to traditional assets such as gold. Despite the 20-year dominance of gold ETFs, bitcoin ETFs have outpaced them by just one year since launching in January 2024.
The approval of bitcoin ETFs in the US means that investors do not have to own bitcoins directly, but can use them in a regulated manner to access the coin, bridging the gap between #cryptocurrencies and traditional finance. This accessibility has created significant demand from institutional and retail investors, resulting in bitcoin ETFs outperforming gold ETFs in terms of assets. Well-known financial players such as BlackRock, #Fidelity and Arc Invest have entered the bitcoin #ETF market, increasing confidence and competition.
gold ETFs have long been considered a safe haven from inflation and economic uncertainty. However, bitcoin, also known as digital gold, has emerged as a modern decentralized alternative with similar properties as a store of value. Bitcoin's limited supply of 21 million bitcoins makes it an attractive hedge against inflation, especially for young investors seeking innovation and high returns.
The incredible price performance of bitcoin in 2024 adds to its appeal. Analysts believe this change represents a generational shift. Young investors are evaluating bitcoin's technical and economic potential. At the same time, traditional investors seeking diversification are increasingly including bitcoin ETFs in their portfolios.
The rapid growth of bitcoin ETFs shows that cryptocurrencies are gaining acceptance in the financial system. After years of regulatory hurdles, the approval of a place for bitcoin ETFs in the U. S.
Read us at: Compass Investments

Vanguard's conservative investment stance is not simply a reaction to market trends, but a reflection of a deeply held philosophy.

The company's exclusion of #cryptocurrencies from its portfolio is consistent with its focus on assets that create long-term value rather than speculative investments. Vanguard's approach is characterized by a rigorous new product selection process that focuses on investment merit, client needs, competitive advantage and viability.
Despite the appeal of #blockchain technology and its potential to make capital markets more efficient, Vanguard remains cautious about prioritizing the interests of its long-term investor base over the speculative nature of cryptocurrencies today. "
Read us at: Compass Investments
#CompassInvestments #CryptoAdoption

The securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a stay of proceedings on the Invesco Galaxy Ethereum #ETF decision, as is usually expected by market analysts during a storm of regulatory anticipation. Such delays, according to Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart, are par for the course and hint at an extended period of waiting. All eyes are now on the important date of May 23rd, which is paramount to the fate of Ethereum spot ETFs.

#Coingecko : #Ethereum ETF Assets Surge To $5.7B
However, as the SEC considering the proposal, the world of cryptocurrencies is rolling forward at an astonishing pace of growth and diversification. A recent full report released by Coingecko, one of the most recognized data analytic platforms in this industry, pointed out some amazing numbers: Ethereum ETFs currently represent a total value of about $5.7 billion from different issuers in Europe and capture 81% of the market share.
Highlighting further on Ethereum ETFs, this report throws a spotlight on the XBT Ethereum Tracker One (COINETH), which is alleged to be the king of the global ETF marketplace with an asset size of $3.34 billion. Following close behind is its competitor, XBT Ethereum Tracker Euro (COINETHE), with the level of total assets constituting $510.93 million. As the world’s inaugural Ether ETFs to set foot on this stage, they certainly set quite a milestone when it comes to experience since their launch in October 2017.

CI Galaxy Ethereum ETF (ETHX), meanwhile, is Canada’s top-spot Ether ETF leader with assets worth $478.35 million as of last week. Meanwhile, Europe’s 21Shares Ethereum Staking ETP (AETH) follows, with $329.42 million assets under management to secure the runner-up position and fortify its first spot Ether ETF position globally.
A notable trend that is seen from this analysis of the geographical dispersion of Ethereum ETFs is that, while Canada and Europe crowd the landscape with a plethora of offerings, the United States lags behind, being a manifestation of the cautious approach by the SEC. Still, with 27 active Ether ETFs around the world, such a market shows an appetite for resiliency and innovative investment avenues.
With the drama of #cryptocurrencies playing out on the global stage, the #Ether ETF offers a glimpse for an investor into a future of digital asset investment. Regulatory uncertainties apart, mainstream adoption is still an issue of contention surrounded by promises and potential.