For years, Vanguard was the classic “no‑crypto” giant in traditional finance. This week, that changed in a big way. The firm has reversed its ban and will now let its brokerage clients trade crypto ETFs and mutual funds that hold assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Solana. (etf.com)
In simple terms: more than 50 million Vanguard customers, representing around $11 trillion in assets, just got direct access to regulated crypto ETFs on one of the most conservative platforms in the world. (benzinga.com)
What Exactly Did Vanguard Change?
Vanguard is now allowing third‑party funds that primarily hold cryptocurrencies to trade on its platform. That includes spot ETFs tied to $BTC, $ETH and $SOL, as well as XRP, as long as the funds are SEC‑regulated and meet Vanguard’s internal standards. (coin360.com)
But there are still guardrails:
No leveraged or inverse crypto ETFs
No meme‑coin products
Vanguard is not launching its own crypto funds; it’s just opening the door to outside issuers, similar to how it treats gold ETFs. (coinmarketcap.com)
The move comes after months of review and growing client pressure, plus the success of rival products like BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF. (coinmarketcap.com)
Why This Matters for the Market
This shift lands while crypto is in a deep correction: has BTC dropped roughly a third from its October all‑time high, and volatility has scared many retail traders. (neuralarb.com)
So Vanguard changing its stance now, not at the top, sends a strong message:
It validates crypto ETFs as “normal” portfolio tools, not fringe bets.
Even tiny allocations from such a huge client base can mean billions in potential inflows over time. (coin360.com)
It reduces the career risk for other conservative advisors who still sit on the fence about recommending crypto exposure. (reuters.com)
For $BTC , ETH $SOL , it strengthens the case that large institutions see them as core infrastructure plays, not just speculative altcoins. (coin360.com)
How a Trader or Investor Can Think About It
You don’t need to be a Vanguard client to care. This kind of policy shift usually plays out over quarters, not days:
It widens the funnel of potential long‑term buyers in blue‑chip crypto.
It helps anchor the idea that a 1–3% allocation in diversified portfolios is becoming “normal” for risk‑tolerant investors, especially via ETFs. (reuters.com)
It tells you large asset managers are done trying to ignore crypto—they’d rather control how people access it.
Short term, prices can still drop hard. But structurally, this is one more brick in the wall of mainstream adoption.
#Bitcoin #Ethereum #Solana #Vanguard #CryptoETF #InstitutionalAdoption