Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan predicted that Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could experience up to $10 billion in inflows during the second half of 2025. His forecast, made on July 2, builds on the strong momentum observed over the past months, with Ethereum ETFs already bringing in $1.17 billion in inflows in June alone. […]
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The latest Crypto Market Compass from Bitwise Europe lands like a klaxon: every major gauge of risk appetite, liquidity and macro momentum is swinging in Bitcoin’s favor, and the firm argues the move could “provide a significant tailwind” for the benchmark asset. The study notes that Bitcoin already rebounded from $101,000 to about $108,000 in the past week as traders digested a potent cocktail of cooling inflation, thawing geopolitics and an increasingly dovish Federal Reserve stance. Perfect Storm Brewing For Bitcoin Bitwise’s proprietary Cryptoasset Sentiment Index has surged to its most optimistic reading since May—“now clearly signal[ing] a bullish sentiment again,” the authors write. Behind that surge lies an unprecedented torrent of capital into exchange-traded products: cumulative net inflows to global Bitcoin ETPs have reached a year-to-date record of $14.3 billion, with five consecutive sessions last week adding another $2.2 billion—or roughly 20,763 BTC—to the pile. “Cumulative net inflows … signal potential upside opportunity for the price of Bitcoin,” Bitwise says, adding that US spot ETFs are now on a 14-day winning streak that could eclipse the 16-day record set shortly after launch in early 2024. Related Reading: Warning Signs? Long-Term Bitcoin Holders Take Profits as Leverage Spikes Why are investors suddenly embracing risk? Bitwise points to what it calls a “decline in macro uncertainty.” July may deliver new US trade accords with Canada, while Washington and Tehran have struck a surprisingly conciliatory tone; former President Donald Trump has even floated lifting sanctions if Iran remains peaceful. On top of that, Fed Chair Jerome Powell has tied the timing of a resumption of rate cuts to progress on tariff talks—an alignment that leaves the door open to looser policy within weeks. The report sums up the mood: “The trifecta of declining geopolitical risks, trade policy uncertainty and potential monetary policy stimulus should continue to lift market sentiment and provide a significant tailwind for Bitcoin and other crypto assets.” *** ???????????? *** We have just published our latest ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? report for ???????????????? ????????????????! Here are the ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????? from the report that you need to know: ➡️ ????????????????’???? ????????????????????????????… pic.twitter.com/UYBRwvRE6e — André Dragosch, PhD⚡ (@Andre_Dragosch) July 1, 2025 On-chain signals look equally primed. Whale wallets (1,000 BTC or more) withdrew 8,740 BTC from exchanges last week, exchange reserves sank to 2.898 million BTC—just 14.6 % of supply—and net selling pressure on spot venues fell from $2.2 billion to only $0.5 billion. Related Reading: Bitcoin Freezes Over $100,000 As OG Whales ‘Dump On Wall Street’: Expert Derivatives paint a more nuanced picture: futures open interest slid by 20,000 BTC, and bearish perpetual funding rates hint at lingering short bias, but options markets show traders quietly standing down—put-call open interest fell to 0.59 while one-month implied volatilities eased toward 38%. Bitwise interprets the combination as “short-term consolidation” in the face of an intact longer-term uptrend. Traditional markets are also thawing. Bitwise’s Cross-Asset Risk Appetite (CARA) index jumped from 0.31 to 0.49, reinforcing evidence that capital is rotating back into growth-sensitive trades. Some 70% of tracked altcoins beat Bitcoin last week, a breadth thrust historically associated with early-cycle bull phases. In its bottom-line assessment, Bitwise stops short of price targets but leaves little doubt about direction: as long as geopolitical détente, trade breakthroughs and an accommodative Fed converge with relentless ETF inflows, “a decisive return in global risk appetite” is likely to keep Bitcoin on an upward trajectory. Should US spot ETFs secure just three more sessions of net inflows this week—surpassing their 2024 record—the firm suggests the market may discover how quickly a supply-constrained asset can react when the macro wind blows at its back. At press time, BTC traded at $106,840. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
The updated paperwork also suggests in-kind creations could be coming for a range of crypto ETFs, said an analyst.
Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley believes the actual competition for Bitcoin isn’t gold, but government-backed bonds like US Treasuries and UK gilts. In a June 20 post on X, Horsley argued that gold and Bitcoin are apolitical stores of value that operate outside direct government control. However, he said Bitcoin’s actual competition lies with instruments tightly […]
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Bitwise Asset Management’s European research arm argues that the sharp sell-off that followed last week’s military escalation between Iran and Israel is likely to give way to a powerful relief rally in Bitcoin, echoing the cryptocurrency’s behaviour after earlier geopolitical shocks. In its 16 June weekly newsletter Bitwise Europe points to a “Chart of the Week” that lines up the twenty most significant geopolitical risk events since July 2010 and finds that, on average, Bitcoin was “up 31.2 percent fifty days after the event, with a median gain of 10.2 percent.” According to the authors, “major geopolitical risk events tend to be good buying opportunities for bitcoin and other crypto assets.” The firm’s in-house Crypto Asset Sentiment Index briefly turned negative on Friday—its first dip below zero since May—but had already swung back into slightly bullish territory by Monday morning, a shift Bitwise attributes to renewed inflows into spot exchange-traded products and continued US-dollar weakness. At Bitcoin’s current price of around $107,000, a 31% rally would bring it to approximately $140,000. Missiles Fly, Bitcoin To $140,000? The historical analogue is being tested in real time as markets digest the first open exchange of missiles between Tehran and Jerusalem. The Associated Press reports that Iran has fired more than 370 projectiles at Israel since 13 June, killing at least twenty-four people, while Israel claims to have destroyed over 120 Iranian launchers and says it now enjoys “full aerial superiority over Tehran.” Related Reading: Bitcoin 656% Cyclical Gain Highlights Deep Market Demand – Glassnode The confrontation triggered a textbook flight to safety: gold blasted through $3,430 an ounce on Friday, establishing a fresh record high, while Brent crude spiked and global equities lurched lower. Bitcoin, which had been flirting with its all-time peak near $111,000 early last week, sank as low as $102,600 during the first wave of air-strike headlines before rebounding to the $106,000–107,000 zone. Even after that drawdown, Bitwise notes, the flagship cryptocurrency still out-performed the S&P 500 on a weekly basis thanks to a late-week equity swoon. Bitwise’s thesis rests on three pillars. First is behavioural: previous geopolitical shocks—from Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea to the US–Iran standoff of January 2020—produced knee-jerk liquidations in risk assets, yet Bitcoin’s selling pressure tended to exhaust quickly, setting the stage for a mean-reversion pop. Second is macroeconomic. Related Reading: Bitcoin Future Post Israel-Iran Event: On-Chain Analysis Disputes BTC’s $50K Crash The firm highlights a “pronounced depreciation of the US Dollar,” as the DXY index slid to its weakest level since March 2022 following softer-than-expected inflation prints and another uptick in continuing unemployment claims. Fed-funds futures now imply 1.9 rate cuts by December 2025, loosening global financial conditions and historically favourable for non-yielding, dollar-denominated assets such as Bitcoin. Third is structural demand: US spot Bitcoin ETFs took in a net $1.37 billion last week, while corporate treasuries kept accumulating—Strategy’s Michael Saylor announced the acquisition of 10,100 BTC for $1.05 billion today , and Tokyo-listed Metaplanet disclosed an additional 1,112 BTC purchase that brings its war chest to 10,000 coins. In derivatives, Bitwise flags that the put-call open-interest ratio on Bitcoin options ended the week at 0.61 after dipping to 0.55, while the one-month 25-delta skew flipped decisively into positive territory at +4.87 percent, indicating a premium for upside exposure despite realised volatility languishing around 30 percent. Funding rates on perpetual swaps also remained net long even during Thursday’s risk-off purge, a pattern the firm interprets as “bullish positioning or demand for topside hedging.” Behind the scenes, whales withdrew a net 169,527 BTC from exchanges, and exchange-held reserves fell to 2.92 million coins—about 14.6 percent of supply—further tightening spot liquidity. Sceptics may note that past performance is not predictive and that the explosive rally following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine was fuelled in part by unprecedented monetary stimulus that may not be replicated. Bitwise itself concedes that realised losses spiked to $55.5 million on-chain last week and that momentum in “apparent demand” has softened. Yet the firm argues that the confluence of structural inflows, dollar weakness and depressed sentiment mirrors the set-ups that preceded its historical sample of 31-percent rallies. As the newsletter concludes, “structural demand by both ETPs and corporate treasuries as well as continued macro tailwinds via Dollar weakness and global money supply expansion still support a positive market development for bitcoin and crypto assets.” At press time, BTC traded at $107,239. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
The crypto-focused asset manager is offering a covered call strategy to provide share price exposure to GME while generating income.
Shares are up another 9% in volatile action on Monday, now having nearly quadrupled in price since the IPO late last week.
Samson Mow, a Bitcoin expert and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of JAN3, a BTC-focused infrastructure firm, has shared a striking take on the current valuation of the flagship cryptocurrency. According to Mow, Bitcoin is still far from its full potential and, in his view, should already be priced at $10 million per coin. Why Bitcoin Is Not Worth $10 Million Yet In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Mow stated, “If the world understood Bitcoin, we would be at $10 million a coin now.” This comment reflects his belief that Bitcoin’s true value is heavily undervalued and underestimated. Related Reading: Massive $200 Million Sell Wall Holds Bitcoin At $111,000 And $113,000 – Here’s What We Know For Mow, BTC is more than just a coin to trade; it is a revolutionary asset that could shake up the foundations of the current financial system. With its capped supply, decentralized nature, and consistently growing value, many even believe that BTC has the potential to act as a global reserve currency. Yet despite growing adoption and visibility, Mow argues that most people in the world, including institutions, policymakers, and retailers, still do not fully comprehend Bitcoin and its implications. According to the JAN3 CEO, this knowledge gap is what is holding Bitcoin back from achieving the massive price surge that he and many other long-term advocates anticipate. While the $10 million mark remains speculative for now, Mow’s remarks reflect a wider sentiment among Bitcoin enthusiasts who see the current price as just the beginning. For example, top Bitcoin supporters and investors like Michael J. Saylor, the founder of MicroStrategy, have shared similar views, predicting an explosive rise in Bitcoin’s value to $10 million by 2035. Likewise, Matt Hougan, Bitwise’s Chief Investment Officer (CIO), has voiced strong confidence in Bitcoin reaching the $1 million mark. He believes this milestone could realistically be achieved within the next five years. Demand For BTC Surges Among Institutions And The Wealthy With the growing belief that the Bitcoin price will only continue to rise in the long term, social media reports indicate a significant surge in interest and demand among financial institutions and the wealthy. Notably, Saylor, one of the biggest advocates for Bitcoin, has long been accumulating the cryptocurrency in hundreds of thousands. Related Reading: Is The Bitcoin Rally Over After $111,900 ATH? Global M2 Money Supply Is Still Going Donald Trump, the United States (US) President, has also been a public supporter of Bitcoin, with reports revealing that he is actively buying the flagship cryptocurrency. Even investing legend and hedge fund manager Hugh Henry disclosed earlier this month that he intends to sell his $35 million house to buy $10 million worth of Bitcoin. Binance CEO Richard Teng also announced that the wealthy are showing significant interest in the leading cryptocurrency. He revealed that sovereign funds and high-net-worth individuals are now purchasing BTC like never before. This growing accumulation by institutions and the rich signals strong confidence in BTC’s long-term value and sustainability. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
Bitcoin hovered around $102,600 today after briefly touching $105,000. The dip didn’t shake everyone. Many still bet on a major rally. According to Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan in an interview yesterday, there’s a path for Bitcoin to hit $200,000 by December 31. He points to growing ETF inflows, more corporate buying, and what he sees as open‑door government policies. Related Reading: Dogecoin’s $1 Dream: Analyst Reveals When It Could Finally Happen Supply And Demand Gap Widens Supply is fixed at 21 million coins, with about 165,000 new Bitcoin mined each year. ETF funds, on the other hand, snapped up roughly 500,000 Bitcoin over the past 12 months. Based on reports, that’s more than three times the annual supply. When fresh coins can’t keep pace with big buyers, prices get pushed up. Corporate And Government Holding Rises Companies such as Strategy continue to add Bitcoin to their balance sheets. Based on reports, the US government already has over $17 billion in seized or held Bitcoin. There’s even talk of an executive order to source more without tapping taxpayers. Some say that could mean swapping gold reserves or selling other crypto assets. Abroad, Abu Dhabi reportedly paid $460 million for new Bitcoin, and at least 10 other governments may follow this year. Timing And Economic Volatility Hougan says Bitcoin’s big run was delayed by a spell of economic turbulence. Stocks have slid, and risk assets all felt the heat. He argues that once volatility eases, Bitcoin’s momentum will kick back in. It makes sense on paper. Yet markets can surprise. A sudden move by the Federal Reserve or a shift in borrowing costs might slow the climb again. Other Analyst Forecasts Align It’s not just Bitwise calling for $200,000. Bernstein senior analyst Gautam Chhugani has that number on his radar for 2025. And Intuit Trading’s Blockchaindaily team redrew a trendline after Bitcoin bottomed at $74,000 in April. Their line now points to $200,000 by July 2025. To go from $102,600 to $200,000, Bitcoin needs to climb about 95%. That’s a big leap, even if history shows crypto can move fast. Related Reading: Avalanche Rumbles 21% Amid Record-Breaking Address Activity Looking Ahead With Caution Meanwhile, there are clear risks on the horizon. Changes in tax rules, new trading fees, or a surprise rate hike could push prices down. Still, many believe those hurdles will clear. If ETF demand stays strong and big holders keep buying, Bitcoin may well break past its old highs. For now, investors will keep one eye on short‑term swings and another on that $200,000 milestone. Featured image from Gemini Imagen, chart from TradingView
Bitwise Asset Management has taken a significant step toward launching a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) based on NEAR Protocol’s native token, NEAR. According to information on Delaware’s official state website, the firm registered a new entity called Bitwise NEAR ETF on April 24. The filing, listed under number 10174379, classifies the entity as a corporate […]
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The former fund executive who became a U.S. senator from Pennsylvania this year, Dave McCormick, is BTC's biggest investor in Congress at the moment.
In an investor note dated April 15, 2025, Matt Hougan, the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Bitwise, shared an examination of Bitcoin’s recent trading patterns that may surprise both critics and supporters. “Bitcoin is acting like an asset that wants to go higher, if only macro obstacles would get out of the way,” he wrote. According to Hougan, Bitcoin’s price on April 14 hovered around $84,379, compared to $84,317 a month earlier—a minuscule change of 0.07% during a 30-day window. This flat performance emerged against the backdrop of two significant geopolitical events: the United States announcing the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and President Donald Trump imposing sweeping tariffs on countries around the globe. The resilience that Bitcoin has shown during this period stands in stark contrast to the broader downward trend in traditional financial markets. Hougan pointed out that the S&P 500, which peaked on February 19, has lost 12.0% of its value, with Bitcoin down a comparable 12.4% since that date. He found this alignment astonishing, particularly because it departs from Bitcoin’s behavior during past market downturns. In the 2022 correction, for example, the S&P 500 slid 24.5% while Bitcoin plunged 58.3%. Similarly, at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis in early 2020, stocks fell 33.8% but Bitcoin sank 38.1%, and in late 2018, when escalating trade tensions between the United States and China dragged equities down 19.36%, Bitcoin declined 37.22%. This track record had historically reinforced the notion that, when stocks took a hit, Bitcoin would invariably suffer a far steeper pullback. Related Reading: Bitcoin Lags Gold As Wall Street Doubts Persist, Claims Expert In his latest note, Hougan emphasized how different the present situation feels. Instead of being battered well beyond the equity market’s turbulence, Bitcoin is now mirroring stock losses closely. He acknowledged that this alone does not make Bitcoin an unequivocal hedge asset, adding, “Critics will point out that matching stocks’ performance during a downturn is not the same as acting as a hedge asset, and that gold has been a better performer than Bitcoin during this pullback. That’s true.” Nonetheless, he argued that Bitcoin’s ability to stay around the $80,000 mark while global markets churn is a testament to its robust staying power in the face of multiple macroeconomic shocks. “If that doesn’t give you confidence in its staying power, I don’t know what will,” he remarked. Hougan’s view is that we are witnessing a transitional phase in Bitcoin’s evolution. He explained that the cryptocurrency has historically been driven by two competing forces: it has served as a risk asset, associated with significant upside potential and high volatility, yet it has also occasionally taken on the role of a hedge similar to gold. Related Reading: This Bitcoin Pullback Mirrors 2017’s Path To Parabolic Highs, Says Analyst In Bitcoin’s early days, the risk-asset angle tended to dominate; in major equity sell-offs, investors often shed Bitcoin faster and more aggressively than they exited stocks. Now, with more corporations integrating Bitcoin into their balance sheets, institutional investors exploring it as part of diversified portfolios, and governments—like the United States—incorporating it into strategic reserves, there appears to be a gradual tilt toward Bitcoin being treated more like “digital gold.” . Still, Hougan warned that investors should not overlook the inherent unpredictability in the current macro environment. He noted that equity markets may not yet have found a bottom, raising the possibility that deeper slides could re-expose Bitcoin’s vulnerability if broader panic sets in. He also conceded that gold’s performance remains a more classic example of a safe-haven behavior during systemic shocks, meaning Bitcoin has not conclusively demonstrated that it can replace traditional hedges during intense economic strain. Even so, in his words, “The world is unraveling, and Bitcoin is trading above $80,000.” Hougan underscored that there is no guarantee this dynamic will endure, particularly given the unpredictable repercussions that could stem from sudden tariff escalations or shifts in monetary policy. As he concluded in his note, “Our baby is growing up as a macro asset. And that’s a beautiful thing to see.” At press time, BTC traded at $85,200. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
The asset manager said it was sticking to its 2025 year-end bitcoin price target of $200,000.
Bitcoin's reserve asset status could mature as the White House's tariff strategy may weaken the dollar to boost economic activity.
Bitwise Asset Management has rolled out three new exchange-traded funds (ETFs) designed to generate consistent monthly income by leveraging the high volatility of crypto-linked stocks, according to an April 3 statement. The newly launched ETFs include the Bitwise Coinbase Option Income Strategy ETF (ICOI), Bitwise Marathon Digital Option Income Strategy ETF (IMRA), and Bitwise MicroStrategy […]
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Bitcoin is gaining considerable momentum, with the big boss of Bitwise Asset Management having strong faith in the cryptocurrency’s prospects. The time has come for Bitcoin, says Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley, citing the convergence of several forces behind its rising popularity and worth. This is while digital assets still hold the interest of both institutional investors and the public. Related Reading: XRP Price Imminent Breakout: $5.30 On The Cards, Analyst Says Big Institutions Onboard One of the most significant changes in the financial sector is the increasing interest from large institutions. Horsley pointed out how companies such as BlackRock, which had earlier been critical of Bitcoin, are now significant holders. Bitcoin is a big idea who’s time has come — Hunter Horsley (@HHorsley) March 26, 2025 This reversal on the part of institutional players in the financial space reflects broader recognition of Bitcoin as a legitimate asset class. The fact that these institutional players are now investing large amounts of money reflects long-term belief in the potential of Bitcoin. Easier Ways To Invest The introduction of Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds, or ETFs, in the United States has made it simpler for large institutions and regular investors to get into Bitcoin. These ETFs allow people to invest in Bitcoin without the inconvenience of buying and owning the cryptocurrency. This accessibility has paved the way for additional capital to enter the Bitcoin market, which could stabilize prices and bring in a broader spectrum of investors. States Consider Bitcoin Reserves Surprisingly, some US state governments are considering the possibility of maintaining Bitcoin as part of their reserve funds. According to Horsley, a number of states are looking at bills that would enable them to buy and hold Bitcoin. If the trend gains popularity, it can result in serious Bitcoin purchases from these states, further influencing demand and possibly price. Related Reading: Dogecoin Set For 10x Surge? Elon Musk’s Anime X Post Sparks Hype Global Use Increases Outside of the US, there is also evidence of growing international demand for Bitcoin. Horsley noted that other nations are even employing the crypto in foreign trade. The Bitwise CEO points out that there has been a dramatic shift in the way individuals perceive Bitcoin. It’s no longer viewed by many as merely a speculative, fringe investment. Rather, it’s more a legitimate investment and a potential hedge against conventional financial systems. This change of sentiment, combined with growing institutional adoption, more accessible investment channels, state-level interest possibilities, and expanding international usage, is a reflection of a mature asset of great potential, said the Bitwise big boss. Nevertheless, as with any investment, don’t forget that the crypto market is volatile. Featured image from Gemini Imagen, chart from TradingView
Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, revealed that it secured over $700 million from a recent preferred stock offering designed to purchase more Bitcoin. On March 21, the firm confirmed the sale of 8.5 million shares of its Series A Perpetual STRF Preferred Stock. Each share was priced at $85 and offered a 10% annual dividend. […]
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In an interview with the Paul Barron Network, Bitwise Chief Investment Officer (CIO) Matt Hougan expressed his perspective on the long-debated regulatory battle surrounding XRP and its potential market reaction once legal uncertainties are resolved. According to Hougan, the crypto asset—long restrained by litigation—may be significantly undervalued, with the potential for a sharp market correction following a favorable resolution to its legal entanglements. Since 2020, XRP has been entangled in a legal dispute with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which accused Ripple Labs of conducting an unregistered securities offering. The lawsuit has cast a long shadow over the token, restricting its growth within the US market and leading to its delisting from several major exchanges in the past. Related Reading: Analyst Says Only Buy XRP If It Reaches This Level Now, with the lawsuit potentially reaching its final ruling by April 16, according to Barron, market participants are speculating on XRP’s future trajectory. Hougan weighed in on the matter, pointing out that a resolution could unlock significant latent demand and shift the narrative around the asset. “From my 30,000-foot view, specific to XRP, I think there’s a significant chunk of the crypto market that has sort of written it off or forgotten about it. And I think that part of the market is wrong,” Hougan stated. What Happens Post-Lawsuit With XRP? One of the key takeaways from Hougan’s analysis is the idea that XRP remains an unknown variable in the broader crypto landscape. Unlike Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), which have seen major adoption and institutional inflows, XRP has remained stagnant due to regulatory overhang. If the lawsuit concludes with clarity that allows unrestricted US adoption, the real potential of XRP in global finance could finally be realized. “The reality is, XRP has been suppressed by litigation for multiple years, and we don’t yet know what it can do on the global stage when it’s freed from those restraints,” he added. While Hougan did not make outright price predictions, he did note that institutional and retail sentiment could pivot quickly if XRP gains renewed regulatory clarity in the US. Related Reading: XRP Flirts With A Daily Range Breakdown – Price Must Hold Above $2 Level The discussion also delved into Japan’s aggressive adoption of XRP, with SBI Holdings leading the charge in integrating the asset into its digital banking ecosystem. As noted in the interview, XRP has now surpassed Ethereum in Japanese investor holdings, signaling deep institutional confidence in its future. Paul Barron emphasized that Japan’s approach could foreshadow broader global adoption: “SBI seems to be doing with XRP what Michael Saylor did with Bitcoin—strategically accumulating and positioning it for long-term institutional use.” Hougan agreed, highlighting that XRP’s role in international remittances and liquidity solutions remains underappreciated, and the ongoing legal battle has hindered a more comprehensive evaluation of its utility-driven demand. Another major topic of discussion was the possibility of an spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF). While Hougan did not reveal any detail about Bitwise’s ETF filing and its progress with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), he highlighted the firm’s confidence. “We don’t file for ETPs for fun. We file for them because we think they can launch, and we think there is a significant audience, and we think it’s an important asset.” While some analysts argue that XRP’s legal troubles have already been priced in, Hougan’s comments concluded that the potential upside remains largely ignored by the broader market. If the SEC case concludes favorably, the re-listing of XRP on major US exchanges, new institutional flows, and expanded adoption in banking systems could lead to a market repricing event. “There’s no guarantee XRP will be enormously successful, but there’s equally no guarantee that it won’t be,” Hougan emphasized. At press time, XRP traded at $2.12. Featured image from YouTube, chart from TradingView.com
Bitwise Asset Management has launched Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF (OWNB), a new investment product designed to provide exposure to companies holding significant Bitcoin reserves. According to a March 11 statement, the ETF follows the Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations Index, which includes firms that have integrated Bitcoin into their corporate treasuries. Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan […]
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New ETF tracks public companies holding at least 1,000 bitcoin.
The US President Donald Trump has formally established a strategic Bitcoin reserve last week—an action that has ignited both celebration and concern across the industry. At the heart of this debate is one central question: Will Bitcoin become a geopolitically important global macro asset like gold, or will it remain a niche holding among libertarians, cypherpunks, and speculators? That is the core takeaway from Bitwise’s latest investor memo, authored by Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan. Titled “The Only Question That Matters in Bitcoin” and dated March 10, 2025, the memo underscores how the long-term prospects of Bitcoin may hinge on whether governments worldwide—starting with the United States—view it as indispensable enough to keep building strategic reserves. The One Big Question For Bitcoin In the memo, Hougan highlights the striking nature of the US government’s decision, writing: “Fifteen years after Bitcoin was created—a decade and a half of ridicule and skepticism, of people calling it a ‘pet rock’ and ‘rat poison squared’—the US government declared Bitcoin a ‘strategic’ asset that ‘shall not be sold.’” He argues that Bitcoin’s endorsement as a strategic reserve asset signals a historic shift: “It is a historic milestone, which in time will help propel Bitcoin to new all-time highs. Congratulations to all who believed in this possibility before it was cool.” Related Reading: Michael Saylor’s Strategy Unveils $21 Billion Stock Issuance For Bitcoin Yet, markets have not uniformly welcomed this announcement. While the government’s formal recognition would seem to bolster Bitcoin’s legitimacy, it also disappointed some investors who had expected an immediate influx of new government purchases. Shortly after the reserve news emerged, Bitcoin’s price plummeted 13% from its recent high of over $92,000, dropping below $80,000 for the first time since November 2024. Hougan points to several contributing factors: broader economic worries, an equity market pullback, and, crucially, what he calls a “misunderstanding” of the government’s actual stance. “Despite the historic nature of the declaration, Bitcoin is down sharply in recent days,” he notes in the memo. Investors had apparently hoped for immediate large-scale purchases from the US Treasury. Instead, they learned that the reserve would initially comprise the government’s existing Bitcoin holdings—an estimated 200,000 BTC, worth approximately $16 billion at current prices. Hougan believes the market’s negative reaction is unwarranted, emphasizing that merely retaining those 200,000 Bitcoin instead of selling them—once anticipated under the prior administration—removes a substantial overhang from the market. Related Reading: Bitcoin Plays Chicken With Central Banks As Dollar Falls, Says Expert Moreover, the new executive order explicitly states: “[T]he Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce shall develop strategies for acquiring additional Government BTC provided that such strategies are budget neutral and do not impose incremental costs on United States taxpayers.” In his memo, Hougan underscores the significance of the word “shall,” suggesting it indicates a mandate rather than a mere possibility. Above all, Bitwise’s memo insists on a long-term perspective, urging investors to concentrate on what Hougan terms “the only question that matters in Bitcoin.” That question is whether Bitcoin becomes globally important, akin to gold, or whether it remains peripheral. “If Bitcoin does matter globally, here’s my view: It will be a $10-50 trillion asset, implying a 5x-25x return from current prices. If it doesn’t, it’ll be a footnote in history, bouncing around below $150,000, supported only by a small cohort of libertarians, cypherpunks, and speculators. There is no in between. Bitcoin either matters globally or it doesn’t,” Hougan writes. From this vantage point, the US government’s choice to retain (and potentially expand) its Bitcoin holdings represents an enormous signal to other countries. If, as Hougan suggests, nations including Czechia, Russia, China, El Salvador, and India are weighing their own strategic moves in the digital asset space, the US adopting Bitcoin as strategic could spur them to follow suit—especially if they want to front-run any further American acquisitions. While some investors may be disheartened by the immediate lack of massive government buys, Bitwise’s memo remains optimistic in the face of Bitcoin’s recent volatility. Hougan labels the current price dip as an opportunity for those eyeing a longer timeline. “I see one big takeaway. This short-term weakness is a gift,” he concludes. At press time, BTC traded at $80,319. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
The Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF holds the largest companies that adopted MSTR’s playbook of holding BTC as a treasury asset.
Bitwise has taken a significant step into DeFi with its first institutional allocation through Maple Finance. This initiative will allow Bitwise to access on-chain credit while maintaining compliance with institutional regulatory standards on Maple’s platform. The firm, which manages over $12 billion in client assets, announced the move in a statement shared with CryptoSlate on March […]
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Crypto asset manager and ETF provider Bitwise has made its first allocation into decentralized finance (DeFi) through a partnership with on-chain credit specialist Maple Finance.
The Bitwise Diaman Bitcoin & Gold ETP (BTCG), which commenced trading on Euronext Paris and Amsterdam on Thursday, replicates the Diaman Bitcoin and Gold Index
The Aptos (APT) token defied the broader crypto market downturn, surging over 8% after Bitwise registered an interest in launching a spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on the asset. While major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum dropped more than 3% during this period, APT outperformed the top 50 digital assets, reaching $6.15 as of press […]
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In a memo released on February 25, 2025, Matt Hougan—Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at Bitwise Asset Management—drew striking parallels between today’s crypto market and what he observed in July 2024. Titled “Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain (Redux),” Hougan’s latest analysis suggests that, despite the current pullback, the industry’s underlying fundamentals remain as compelling as ever. Crypto Echoes Of July 2024 Hougan opened his memo by recalling the environment in July 2024, when he penned an earlier piece called “Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain.” Back then, crypto markets were reeling: “Bitcoin, which had peaked above $73,000 in March 2024, had fallen to roughly $55,000, a 24% pullback. Ethereum was down 27% over the same time period.” At the time, Hougan noted that “the crypto market is facing a weird dynamic right now. All the short-term news is bad, and all the long-term news is good.” He also cited catalysts such as potential ETF inflows, the upcoming Bitcoin halving, and more supportive policymaking in Washington, D.C., contrasting them with then-immediate risks like Mt. Gox distributions and government sales of Bitcoin. Related Reading: From Hope To Crypto Panic: How A Day Of Highs For Coinbase Turned Into A Nightmare For Bybit That analysis proved timely. “Shortly after I wrote the memo, Bitcoin bottomed and proceeded to rip straight to $100,000,” Hougan wrote. In his latest note, he sees a similar duality at play: negative short-term developments on one hand, and powerful long-term tailwinds on the other. Yesterday, crypto markets were under renewed pressure: Bitcoin dropped at one point more than 10% to as low as $86,050, Ethereum by 18%, and Solana lower by 21%. The immediate trigger: last weekend’s hack of Bybit, a Singapore-based exchange, which suffered a $1.5 billion Ethereum theft via a phishing scam. Though Bybit dipped into its reserves to make clients whole, the breach reverberated across the industry. The hack followed on the heels of a spate of memecoin scams, including Libra, endorsed by Argentine President and noted crypto proponent Javier Milei. The memecoin cost investors billions in what Hougan described as a “multi-billion-dollar scam.” Moreover, Melania, a project tied to First Lady Melania Trump, also collapsed, causing substantial losses for token holders. Trump, a memecoin linked to US President Donald Trump fared no better. “Taken together, these events probably spell the end of the recent memecoin boom,” Hougan commented. While many institutional and long-term crypto participants may view the memecoin sector with skepticism, its trading volume and buzz have fueled overall market activity—particularly in the Solana ecosystem. Related Reading: Crypto CEO Calls Start Of The Altcoin Season With A Caveat Despite the negative headlines, Hougan points to a robust foundation beneath crypto markets. First, Hougan highlights the pro-crypto regulation under the Trump administration. In his view, “We are in the early days of a massive shift in Washington’s attitude towards crypto.” He cites the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s recent decision to drop high-profile lawsuits against companies like Coinbase and ongoing legislative efforts around stablecoins and market structure. Such developments, he argues, will help crypto break into mainstream finance. Second, institutional adoption is still growing. Large-scale buyers—including asset managers, corporations, and even governments—continue to accumulate Bitcoin. Hougan notes that so far this year, “investors have plowed $4.3 billion into bitcoin ETFs,” and he expects that figure to balloon to $50 billion by year-end. Hougan also expects a stablecoin boom. Stablecoin assets under management have climbed to a record $220 billion, marking a 50% jump from last year. With favorable legislation making its way through Congress, Hougan believes the sector could grow to $1 trillion by 2027. Lastly, the Bitwise CIO predicts the rebirth of DeFi and tokenization. Lending, trading, prediction markets, and derivatives see record heightened usage. Meanwhile, the tokenization of real-world assets continues to hit all-time highs in assets under management, suggesting that blockchain-based representations of traditional securities and commodities may be on the rise. Hougan refers back to his July 2024 thesis to underline today’s opportunity. On the negative side, markets have to navigate aftershocks from Bybit’s massive hack and the implosion of multiple memecoin projects. On the positive side, regulatory clarity, institutional inflows, stablecoin expansion, and DeFi innovation continue unabated. “This is what I call a no-brainer,” Hougan wrote, underscoring his stance that serious long-term factors overwhelmingly outweigh the short-term setbacks. He does offer a measured warning, noting this pullback may prove more pronounced than last summer’s dip: “The memecoin boom was large, and the hangover could be more significant. It might take days, weeks, or months to work through it.” Yet his conclusion remains firm: the long-term growth narrative remains intact. “When that happens, I like my money on the long term,” he stated, reiterating that patience can be rewarded in a market often swayed by headline-driven volatility. At press time, BTC traded at $88,349. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
The raise was led by Electric Capital and included participation from MassMutual, Highland Capital, Haun Ventures and ParaFi Capital
In an escalation of global economic friction, President Trump’s imposed tariffs have roiled financial markets this week, cutting across both equities, Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Yet a new memo from Bitwise Asset Management suggests that these headwinds might ultimately propel Bitcoin to new heights—regardless of whether Trump’s strategy succeeds or fails. At the beginning of the week, the crypto market witnessed a severe sell-off. Bitcoin declined by about 5%, while Ethereum and XRP suffered even sharper losses—17% and 18%, respectively. The immediate catalyst was Trump’s imposition of a 25% tariff on most imports from Canada and Mexico, as well as a 10% tariff on China. In retaliation, those trading partners announced countermeasures of their own. Related Reading: Key Indicator Signals DCA Opportunity Amid Bitcoin Buyer Momentum The US dollar reacted by jumping more than 1% against major currencies. That, combined with lingering weekend illiquidity in crypto markets, triggered a wave of forced liquidations as leveraged traders sold into the downdraft. According to Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan, as much as $10 billion in leveraged positions was wiped out in what he described as “the largest liquidation event in crypto’s history.” Despite the dramatic price action, Bitwise’s Head of Alpha Strategies, Jeffrey Park, remains optimistic about Bitcoin’s trajectory. He points to two guiding ideas that shape his bullish thesis: the ‘Triffin Dilemma’ and President Trump’s broader aim to restructure America’s trade dynamics. The Triffin Dilemma highlights the conflict between a currency serving as a global reserve—generating consistent demand and overvaluation—and the need to run persistent trade deficits to supply enough currency abroad. While this status allows the US to borrow cheaply, it also puts sustained pressure on domestic manufacturing and exports. “Trump wants to get rid of the negatives, but keep the positives,” Park explains, suggesting that tariffs may be a negotiating tool to compel other nations to the table—reminiscent of the 1985 Plaza Accord, which devalued the dollar in coordination with other major economies. The Two Scenarios: Bitcoin Wins, Fiat Loses Park argues that Bitcoin stands to benefit under two distinct outcomes of Trump’s current trade policy: Scenario 1: Trump Succeeds in Weakening the Dollar (While Keeping Rates Low) If Trump can maneuver a multilateral agreement—akin to a ‘Plaza Accord 2.0’—to reduce the dollar’s overvaluation without boosting long-term interest rates, risk appetite among US investors could surge. In this environment, a non-sovereign asset like Bitcoin, free from capital controls and dilution, would likely attract additional inflows. Meanwhile, other nations grappling with the fallout of a weaker dollar might deploy fiscal and monetary stimulus to support their economies, potentially driving even more capital toward alternative assets like Bitcoin. Related Reading: After The Bitcoin Crash: Will It Rise Or Drop Again? 5 Key Indicators “If Trump can bully his way into the position, there’s no asset better positioned than bitcoin. Lower rates will spark the risk appetite of US investors, sending prices high. Abroad, countries will face weakened economies, and will turn to classic economic stimulus to compensate, leading again to higher bitcoin prices,” Park argues. Scenario 2: A Prolonged Trade War And Massive Money Printing If Trump fails to secure a broad-based deal and the trade war grinds on, global economic weakness would almost certainly invite extensive monetary stimulus from central banks. Historically, such large-scale liquidity injections have been bullish for Bitcoin, as investors seek deflationary and decentralized assets insulated from central bank policies “And what if he fails? What if, instead, we get a sustained tariff war? Our high-conviction view is the resulting economic weakness will lead to money printing on a scale larger than we’ve ever seen. And historically, such stimulus has been extraordinarily good for bitcoin,” Park says.. At press time, BTC traded at $98,557. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
The Bitcoin price sank by more than 13.5% over the weekend, dropping as low as $91,201 on Binance. The sell-off followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement of new trade tariffs. The administration levied a 25% tariff on most imports from Canada and Mexico, added a 10% tax on Chinese goods, and imposed a 10% tariff on Canadian energy resources. While market observers typically view such aggressive moves as a negative for risk assets, one prominent voice at Bitwise Invest sees a wildly different scenario, predicting that these tariffs could fuel a “violent” long-term rally in Bitcoin. Why Tariffs May Supercharge Bitcoin Jeff Park, Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise Invest, argues that these tariffs cannot be understood simply as a response to trade imbalances but should be viewed against the broader backdrop of the so-called Triffin dilemma. In Park’s words, “The US wants to keep its ability to borrow cheaply, but rid its structural overvaluation and constant trade deficits—enter tariffs.” Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Is Trading In This Bearish Flag — What’s The Downside Target? He suggests that, by using tariffs as a bargaining chip, the White House is looking to create a new multi-lateral agreement—akin to a “Plaza Accord 2.0”—aimed at weakening the US dollar. This would potentially oblige foreign governments to reduce their US dollar reserves or to hold longer-duration Treasuries, thereby keeping yields low without officially enacting yield curve control. Park also ties this strategy to the president’s personal incentives. He believes Trump’s “#1 goal” is to drive down the 10-year Treasury yield, in part because cheaper long-term financing would benefit real estate markets. According to Park, such a push for lower yields dovetails with a deliberate move to weaken the dollar—two conditions that, in his view, create a perfect environment for Bitcoin to flourish. “The asset to own therefore is Bitcoin. In a world of weaker dollar and weaker US rates, something broken pundits will tell you is impossible (because they can’t model statecraft), risk assets in the US will fly through the roof beyond your wildest imagination, for it is likely a giant tax cut will have to accompany the higher costs borne by the loss of comparative advantage,” Park writes. His thesis is that the “online and onchain” nature of today’s economy will funnel frustrated citizens across the globe toward alternative stores of value—namely Bitcoin. He believes both sides of any prolonged tariff war will discover that BTC offers a refuge from the fallout, leading to what he describes as a much higher price trajectory. Related Reading: Analyst Explains Bitcoin’s Path To $150,000 – Details “So while both sides of the trade imbalance equation will want Bitcoin for two different reasons, the end result is the same: higher, violently faster—for we are at war. TLDR: You simply have not yet grasped how amazing a sustained tariff war is going to be for Bitcoin in the long run,” Park claims. Tariffs As A Risk Asset Drag Not all analysts share Park’s optimism. Alex Krüger, an economist and trader from Argentina, disagrees with the notion that tariffs of this magnitude inherently favor Bitcoin. He warned that “Bitcoin is mainly a risk asset.” He added: Tariffs this aggressive are very negative for risk assets. And the economy will take a hit. The tariffs announced are considerably worse than what was expected by the market, as gradual tariffs or delayed implementation were seen as alternatives. So the S&P futures will open deeply in the red tonight and flush.” In Krüger’s view, Bitcoin remains a high-beta asset often correlated with equity markets. When a major macro shock—like a sudden hike in tariffs—hits, investors typically rotate into safe havens rather than riskier holdings such as stocks or cryptocurrencies. He pointed out that the sell-off in crypto over the weekend might be explained by the market reacting to an “unexpectedly harsh” tariff announcement. “The hope for crypto is that it has already dropped a lot in anticipation,” Krüger observed, hinting that digital assets may find a local bottom if the initial shock has been fully absorbed. However, he emphasized the persistent uncertainty ahead, including the possibility of retaliation by targeted nations. A swift resolution to the trade dispute could trigger a bounce, whereas an escalation could deepen market jitters. Krüger also cautioned that the Federal Reserve might turn hawkish if tariffs stoke inflation—an outcome that rarely bodes well for high-growth or risk-prone assets. Still, he hasn’t ruled out fresh all-time highs in equities later this year: “I still don’t think the cycle top is in, and expect equity indices to print ATHs later in the year. But the probability of being wrong has increased. Particularly on the latter. As I said a week ago, I’ve taken my long-term hat off. This is a traders’ market.” At press time, BTC traded at $94,000. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com