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Vanguard opens access to crypto-ETF: institutional shift
One of the most conservative asset managers in the world has allowed trading of spot ETFs on Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and other assets for the first time.
Vanguard, which has criticized cryptocurrencies for their volatility and 'unsuitability for the long term' for years, is pivoting 180 degrees. As of December 2, over 50 million of the company's customers gained direct access to crypto-ETFs — a first in the platform's history.
The volume of assets under Vanguard's management exceeds $11 trillion, and this audience has been cut off from the crypto market for many years. The company now cites growing demand from both retail and institutional sides as the reason for this move.
This is not just a functionality update — it is a change in the market architecture. One of the last giants of traditional finance, which remained outside of crypto, is effectively recognizing it as part of the core investment infrastructure.
For the market, this is a signal: the institutionalization of crypto assets is reaching a new level. After BlackRock, Fidelity, and other influential players, Vanguard is joining in — and this strengthens a trend that can no longer be ignored.
