Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record long-term inflows of $118.6 billion, up 40% from the prior quarter and 22% from the prior year quarter [5] - Assets under management (AUM) ended the quarter at $1.68 trillion, increasing from the prior quarter due to long-term net inflows and the acquisition of Apera [6][7] - Adjusted Operating Income was $437.3 million, reflecting lower performance fees and the impact of higher average AUM [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Long-term net inflows were $28 billion, with record AUM and positive net flows across equity, multi-asset, and alternative strategies [6] - Public markets generated positive net flows totaling $30.4 billion for the quarter, with equity net inflows of $19.8 billion [8] - Private markets saw $274 billion in alternative AUM, with $10.8 billion raised during the quarter, including $9.5 billion in private market assets [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The institutional pipeline of long, but unfunded mandates remains strong at $20.4 billion, indicating sustained demand for investment capabilities [8] - The ETF platform reached a new high with $58 billion in AUM, generating $7.5 billion in net flows, marking its 17th consecutive positive quarter [14] - Multi-asset AUM is nearly $200 billion, with net inflows of $4 billion during the quarter, marking the 18th consecutive quarter of positive net flows [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on deepening client partnerships, broadening investment capabilities, and strengthening its global platform [5] - There is a strategic emphasis on integrated solutions and long-term relationships, reflecting a shift in client expectations [4] - The company aims to grow its fiduciary business and expand its private credit platform, with a focus on geographic and capability enhancements through M&A [10][35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted significant market turbulence and economic uncertainty, leading to a need for resilience in portfolios [3] - The company is well-positioned to capture long-term trends reshaping the industry across public and private markets [19] - Management expressed confidence in achieving a margin of over 30% by fiscal 2027, with ongoing investments in growth and innovation [44][46] Other Important Information - The company has been recognized as one of the best places to work in money management, highlighting its commitment to employee satisfaction [19] - The digital asset AUM is $1.8 billion, including approximately $900 million in tokenized funds and $800 million in crypto ETFs [16] Q&A Session All Questions and Answers Question: How much flexibility does the company have to reduce expenses if markets come under pressure? - Management indicated that expenses are expected to be in line with 2025, with key investments offset by expense savings [23] Question: Can you provide an update on potential contingent consideration liabilities from recent M&A activity? - Management confirmed that the contingent consideration around specific transactions is very low at this stage, with no additional liabilities to report [26][28] Question: What are the company's expectations for EFR in the coming quarters? - Management expects EFR to be stable in the next quarter, with potential upside based on fundraising around alternative assets [39] Question: How does the company view long-term profitability and margin targets? - Management aims for margins to exceed 30% by fiscal 2027, with ongoing efforts to streamline products and integrate acquisitions [44][46] Question: How is AI expected to impact the asset management industry and the company's M&A strategy? - Management believes that AI will drive consolidation in the industry, making it difficult for smaller managers to compete due to the scale required for data acquisition and model training [72][74]

BlackRock is ramping up its digital asset strategy with a wave of new hires aimed at expanding its crypto and blockchain-related products globally, amid growing institutional interest in tokenized and onchain assets. In a job posting board, the $10 trillion asset manager said it is hiring for seven digital asset positions, six based in the United States and one in Singapore. The move follows BlackRock's head of digital assets, Robert Mitchnick, posting about the open roles on LinkedIn last week. One of ...

Core Viewpoint - Tom Lee remains optimistic about Ethereum, suggesting that the increasing involvement of major financial institutions could support his long-term price target of $9,000 for the cryptocurrency [1][4]. Institutional Adoption - Major financial institutions, referred to as the "venerable and elite of Wall Street," are increasingly building on the Ethereum blockchain, with Amundi, Europe's largest asset manager, launching a tokenized fund on Ethereum [2][5]. - The trend indicates a broader institutional shift towards public blockchains, as asset managers explore tokenization amid growing regulatory and investor acceptance of digital infrastructure [2]. Significance of Amundi's Move - James Smith from the Ethereum Foundation highlighted the importance of Amundi's deployment on Ethereum, noting that the asset manager, with €2.2 trillion in assets, surpasses major U.S. firms like Fidelity and PIMCO [3]. - The choice of public Ethereum over private chains by institutions like BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, and Amundi signifies a growing preference for Ethereum in real-world asset tokenization [3]. Price Forecast - Despite current market challenges, Tom Lee predicts that Ethereum's price could rebound significantly, estimating a range of $7,000 to $9,000 by the end of January, even as it trades around $2,843, reflecting a decrease of over 5% [4][6].

Industry Development - Chainlink expands tokenized fund access, enabling banks to trigger on-chain fund workflows [1] - Banks can utilize standard SWIFT messages without system overhaul [1]

Industry Trend - Chainlink expands tokenized fund access, enabling banks to trigger on-chain fund workflows [1] - Banks can utilize standard SWIFT messages without system overhaul [1] Technology Application - Integration of Chainlink with SWIFT allows traditional financial institutions to interact with blockchain technology [1]

🚨 @CHAINLINK EXPANDS TOKENIZED FUND ACCESS!Banks can now trigger onchain fund workflows using standard @swiftcommunity messages without system overhaul 👇https://t.co/A34GUmhvZf ...

Fund Offering - WisdomTree launches tokenized fund offering private-debt exposure on blockchain [1] - The entry point for the fund is $25 [1] Industry Trend - Bloomberg reports on WisdomTree's new offering [1]