$1.3 trillion Morgan Stanley says Bitcoin is "a scarce asset, akin to digital gold."The firm will allow Financial Advisors to "flexibly allocate" cryptocurrency to their portfolios. https://t.co/JrwWAErZGp ...

💥JUST IN: Morgan Stanley’s Global Investment Committee says Bitcoin is “a scarce asset akin to digital gold” https://t.co/QXsFdmfJZR ...

By Rashika Singh (Reuters) -Citigroup raised its year-end outlook for ether and slightly trimmed its view on bitcoin, citing shifting investor flows and macroeconomic crosscurrents. Investors are increasingly favouring the yield-generating ether over bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency, which relies solely on price appreciation. The Wall Street brokerage's target of $133,000 for bitcoin implies a roughly 12% upside from its trading level of $118,747.48, as of 0530 GMT. For ether, the target is $ ...

Decentralized Systems & Cryptocurrency - The report references Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon from 1999, which explored electronic money and digital gold [1] - Bitcoin and Ethereum are presented as a modern-day reality of decentralized systems [1] - A fireside chat at LONGITUDE will discuss the power of decentralized systems [1]

Bitcoin Movement - An address dormant since 2013, holding 400 Bitcoin, has moved its assets [1] - The 400 Bitcoin are worth over $44 million [1]

Decentralized Systems & Cryptocurrency - Explores the concept of electronic money and digital gold, referencing Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon from 1999 [1] - Highlights the emergence of Bitcoin and Ethereum as real-world examples of decentralized systems [1] - Features a discussion on the power of decentralized systems with Neal Stephenson and Joseph Lubin at LONGITUDE [1] Event Information - LONGITUDE is co-hosted by Cointelegraph and @Unlimit_com [1]

Market Perspective - Bitcoin is considered as a digital gold [1]

Bitcoin Adoption & Strategy - MicroStrategy's Executive Chairman advocates for Bitcoin as beneficial for the nation, suggesting the U S should own a large part of cyberspace, viewing Bitcoin as the next frontier [2][3] - Corporate adoption is a key driver for Bitcoin, with consistent acquisition by ETFs like BlackRock on behalf of institutional investors [4] - Companies are increasingly using Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset, improving their capital structure [6] - Two types of companies are adopting Bitcoin: operating companies using it as a treasury reserve and true treasury companies capitalizing on it [5][6] Bitcoin as Digital Gold - Bitcoin is positioned as digital gold, expected to underpin digital credit for the next 300 years, similar to gold-backed credit in the past [7] - Bitcoin is considered a superior bearer instrument compared to gold, offering digital advantages like teleportation and programmability [9][10] - The potential of Bitcoin is estimated to be "10x bigger than gold" [10] Market Dynamics & Price - Despite gold's strong performance, Bitcoin hasn't moved in lockstep, but corporate adoption is putting upward pressure on its price [4][9] - MicroStrategy invested approximately $40 million over the past 100 years to acquire about 78% of the entire United States [3] - Bitcoin is expected to move up smartly again toward the end of the year, overcoming resistance and macro headwinds [4]

Core Viewpoint - VanEck maintains its perspective of Bitcoin as "digital gold," highlighting its scarcity and increasing adoption, while expressing optimism about its value trajectory into 2026 [1][6]. Bitcoin Price Projections - VanEck suggests that Bitcoin could reach a new all-time high (ATH) in 2026, following the historical post-halving cycle pattern, with potential record-breaking gains expected between late 2025 and 2026 [3][6]. - The traditional four-year Bitcoin cycle is still considered valid, indicating that the crypto market has room for growth as it approaches the next year [2]. Bitcoin Scarcity and Halvings - Bitcoin's capped supply of 21 million coins and the programmed halvings, which reduce block rewards by 50% approximately every four years, are emphasized as key factors that slow issuance [4]. - The upcoming halving in April 2024 is expected to precede significant returns, with analysts predicting that this event could drive Bitcoin towards new highs over the next 12–18 months [4]. Institutional Adoption - Bitcoin's adoption has surged beyond small online communities, with estimated institutional holdings reaching $196 billion by mid-2025, as it becomes a hedge against inflation and a non-correlated asset [5][6]. - The growing presence of Bitcoin in institutional portfolios reinforces its role as "digital gold" [6]. Innovations in Bitcoin Ecosystem - Innovations in Layer 2 scaling, particularly the Lightning Network and the upcoming RGB protocol, are highlighted as developments that could expand Bitcoin's use cases into tokenized assets like equities and real estate [7]. - The RGB protocol is seen as a potential catalyst for new opportunities for innovation and growth within the Bitcoin ecosystem [7].

Core Insights - Michael Saylor is a prominent advocate for Bitcoin, having significantly invested in it since 2020 and achieving substantial returns [1][2] - Strategy, the company Saylor leads, is recognized as a pioneer in the Bitcoin treasury movement, owning 3% of all outstanding Bitcoin and seeing its stock rise over 2,200% in the past five years [2] - Saylor believes Bitcoin's potential for growth is immense, projecting an increase of 18,254% over time, with a target price of $21 million by 2046 [3][6] Bitcoin Treasury Movement - The Bitcoin treasury movement allows companies to raise funds through capital markets to purchase Bitcoin, with Strategy being a leading example [2] - The significant appreciation of Strategy's stock highlights the potential financial benefits of this approach [2] Future Projections - Saylor's projection of Bitcoin reaching $21 million in 21 years suggests a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 28%, surpassing historical performance of major companies and indices [6] - This projection is based on the finite supply of Bitcoin, with only 21 million tokens to be mined [5] Regulatory Environment - The Trump administration's policies have positioned the U.S. as a potential crypto capital, facilitating investments in Bitcoin through executive orders and legislative support [7][8] - Pro-crypto regulations have enabled traditional financial institutions to engage with Bitcoin, increasing accessibility for mainstream investors [8] Bitcoin as a Hedge - Bitcoin is increasingly viewed as a digital gold and a hedge against inflation, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions and U.S. debt concerns [9] - The performance of gold in recent years has reinforced this perspective, as investors seek safe-haven assets [9] Investment Considerations - While projections for Bitcoin's future value should be approached cautiously, the asset may serve as a unique diversification tool within investment portfolios [10][11] - BlackRock suggests a modest allocation of up to 2% of capital in Bitcoin for multi-asset portfolios, indicating institutional interest [11]