Geopolitical tensions fuel central bank shift toward gold, crypto — BlackRock exec

    Central banks worldwide are accelerating their diversification strategies amid rising geopolitical uncertainty, increasingly turning to assets like gold and Bitcoin, according to Jay Jacobs, BlackRock’s head of thematics and active ETFs. In a recent interview with CNBC, Jacobs pointed to a long-term trend where countries have been reducing their reliance on dollar-based reserves in favor of assets like…

    Ethereum sees record single-day inflow with 449K ETH in accumulation addresses

    Key Takeaways: Ethereum saw a record 449,000 in ETH inflows to accumulation addresses on April 22. Active addresses rose 10%, signaling growing network engagement, but DeFi activity remains weak with declining DEX volumes. Holders in accumulation addresses remain underwater with a realized price of $1,981. Over the past 10 days, Ethereum inflows into accumulation addresses…

    Asian firms ramp up Bitcoin buys: Metaplanet, HK Asia lead charge

    Asian investment firms are stepping up their Bitcoin accumulation strategies, with Japan’s Metaplanet and Hong Kong’s HK Asia Holdings leading the way. Tokyo-based Metaplanet disclosed on April 24 that it acquired an additional 145 Bitcoin for 1.9 billion Japanese yen (around $13.4 million), boosting its total holdings to 5,000 BTC. Metaplanet CEO Simon Gerovich confirmed the…

    SEC task force met with Trump-supporting firms to discuss crypto regulation

    The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) crypto task force, headed by Hester Peirce, has continued meeting with digital asset company representatives as the agency explores regulatory changes. In an April 24 notice, the SEC task force disclosed a meeting with representatives from crypto firm Ondo Finance and the law firm Davis Polk and Wardwell to discuss…

    BlackRock Bitcoin fund wins best new ETF on $643M inflow day

    BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund has been named the best new ETF product by etf.com, as it recorded its highest inflows since Jan. 21. On April 23, BlackRock’s iShare Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) was awarded the “Best New ETF” at the annual etf.com ETF awards. In an X post shortly after, Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said it “feels right…

    Traders pour into leveraged ETFs, gold in bid to weather volatility — Bloomberg

    Traders are embracing diametrically opposed exchange-traded fund (ETF) strategies in a bid to navigate one of the most unpredictable financial markets in recent history, according to data from Bloomberg Intelligence. The year-to-date has seen record inflows to ETFs providing leveraged long exposure to volatile assets such as stocks and cryptocurrencies, as well as funds holding…