JUST IN: BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF volume surpasses $1.8 billion in the first two hours of trading today. https://t.co/0gew7hapHK ...

Bitcoin’s options market is swinging heavily toward bears, with the $80,000 put now emerging as the most popular contract on Deribit. The put option holds over $2 billion in open interest, surpassing the $85,000 put at $1.97 billion. The once-dominant $140,000 call has seen its open interest drop to $1.56 billion, as per Deribit data. The rise in put demand indicates that investors expect Bitcoin to crash below $80,000. Stronger Setup for a Rally On-chain data from CryptoQuant shows clear capitulation ...

Core Insights - HelloTrade, a blockchain-powered trading platform founded by former BlackRock crypto directors, has successfully closed a $4.6 million seed round led by Dragonfly Capital, indicating strong market potential and the founders' proven track record [1] - The platform aims to democratize access to global capital markets by allowing users to gain leveraged exposure to stocks, ETFs, commodities, and crypto without the usual barriers [4][5] Company Overview - HelloTrade is built on MegaETH, enabling users to trade with the speed of traditional brokerage platforms while processing over 100,000 transactions per second [4] - The founders, Kevin Tang and Wyatt Raich, have extensive backgrounds in finance and technology, having previously worked at BlackRock's digital assets division [8] Market Opportunity - The platform addresses long-standing barriers in capital markets, such as geography, high capital requirements, and complex systems, which have limited access for both retail and professional investors [3] - HelloTrade's approach is inspired by the transformation of access to digital assets through crypto derivatives, aiming to apply similar principles to traditional equities [5] Advisory Support - The company is backed by a strong advisory team, including notable figures from various sectors, enhancing its credibility and potential for success [6]

The drop to around the $90,000 is worryingly fast. As such, it is no surprise that many are asking: When will crypto recover? Already, BTC USD price is battered, and some of the top meme coins are down triple digits in the last month. As Bitcoin, , and some of the best cryptos to buy approach local resistance levels, the total crypto market cap is also sliding. In roughly one week, over $400Bn has been lost. Every tick lower heaps more pressure; will buyers hold? (Source: Coingecko) DISCOVER: Best New C ...

🔥 NOW: BlackRock spot Bitcoin ETF bought 1,910 $BTC worth $210.9M on Oct. 21. https://t.co/vNsupHpaUT ...

Group 1 - Major asset managers like BlackRock are attracting Bitcoin whales to Wall Street by offering a way to integrate into the traditional financial system without selling their assets [1][3] - BlackRock launched spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in January 2024, with its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) holding approximately $89 billion in net assets as of October 20 [2][6] - The SEC's regulatory update on July 29 allows in-kind creations and redemptions for crypto asset exchange-traded products, facilitating the conversion of Bitcoin holdings into ETF shares [5][6] Group 2 - BlackRock has converted over $3 billion worth of Bitcoin into ETF shares, providing convenience for clients to manage their exposure through existing financial advisers [6][7] - Bitcoin, while still considered a risky asset, can be used as collateral and passed on to heirs once integrated into the traditional financial system through ETF shares [7] - Other firms like Bitwise Asset Management and Galaxy are also participating in this trend, highlighting the benefits of traditional financial systems [8] Group 3 - The irony noted by industry leaders is that Bitcoin was originally created to escape traditional finance, yet its largest holders are now seeking to reintegrate into it [9] - Bitcoin's trading price was reported at $108,403.74, reflecting a 2.32% decrease in a day [9]

JUST IN: BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF surpasses $100 billion AUM, the fastest growing ETF in history. https://t.co/6mYfqKKr6S ...

Core Insights - XRP is the third-largest cryptocurrency with a legitimate use case as a bridging currency in Ripple's payment network, facilitating instant and low-cost money transfers for financial institutions [2] - The SEC's lawsuit against Ripple in 2020 suppressed XRP's price, but a settlement in August 2023 led to a record high for the token [3][8] - Anticipation is building for the SEC's approval of the first spot XRP ETF by October 18, which could attract billions into the cryptocurrency market [4] Regulatory Developments - The SEC's approval of spot ETFs has been beneficial for Bitcoin, which has seen significant inflows and price increases since the approval of its first ETFs in January 2024 [6] - The SEC has recently adopted new Generic Listing Standards (GLS) that may expedite the approval process for spot XRP ETF applications [7] Market Dynamics - Spot ETFs provide a safer investment vehicle for cryptocurrencies, as they are regulated and offer protection for investors, potentially leading to increased participation in the market [5] - Seven providers are awaiting SEC decisions on spot XRP ETFs, with Grayscale having the earliest deadline [6]

ETF Activity - Fidelity spot Bitcoin ETF on Oct 1 bought 1,570 BTC worth $1793 million [1]

Core Insights - BlackRock Inc. is exploring the launch of tokenized exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on blockchain networks while ensuring their values remain tied to traditional assets like stocks [1][12] - The tokenization of ETFs allows for extended trading hours, fractional ownership, and the use of ETF shares as collateral in decentralized finance networks [3][12] Tokenization Benefits - Tokenization enables trading beyond standard hours, expands access for international investors, and allows fractional ownership, which lets investors acquire smaller portions of assets [3] - Faster settlements and more efficient market structures are driving the growing adoption of tokenization across the financial industry [3] Competitive Landscape - BlackRock has positioned itself as an early mover in the tokenization space, previously experimenting with tokenized fund shares on JPMorgan's Onyx blockchain [4] - Competitor Franklin Templeton has already introduced tokenized share classes of money market funds, indicating a competitive push in this area [3] Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, BlackRock's assets under management (AUM) grew 17.7% year over year to a record $12.53 trillion, driven by a 329.3% surge in digital assets [7][12] - The firm's focus on digital assets is further highlighted by a recent $116 million investment from The Harvard Management Company in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust [7] Strategic Initiatives - BlackRock is actively working to grow its AUM, including plans to open an office in Kuwait for investment advisory services [8] - The company announced a new customized portfolio offering in collaboration with Citigroup, managing approximately $80 billion in assets, expected to launch in Q4 2025 [9] Recent Acquisitions - BlackRock has made several acquisitions to enhance its private market offerings, including the purchase of ElmTree Funds and HPS Investment Partners, as well as acquiring Preqin for $3.2 billion [10]