Bitcoin News Today: Vanguard's Crypto Shift Signals Mainstream Finance's Blockchain Embrace

Vanguard Group, the second-largest asset manager globally with over $11 trillion in assets under management, has [reversed its long-standing resistance](https://coinpaprika.com/news/vanguard-allows-crypto-etfs-platform-december-2025/) to cryptocurrency by permitting trading of crypto ETFs and mutual funds on its brokerage platform starting December 2, 2025. The policy change allows clients to invest in products tied to Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana, while explicitly excluding memecoin-linked offerings [according to research](https://coinpedia.org/crypto-live-news/vanguard-opens-its-platform-to-crypto-etfs-and-funds/). This marks a significant shift for a firm that previously dismissed digital assets as speculative and unsuitable for long-term portfolios [as reported](https://beincrypto.com/vanguard-crypto-ban-ends-bitcoin-solana-xrp-trading-opens/).

The decision follows years of internal debate and external pressure from both retail and institutional investors. Vanguard's leadership, under CEO Salim Ramji—a former BlackRock executive and blockchain advocate—has [acknowledged the maturation](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-01/vanguard-relents-on-crypto-etfs-will-allow-them-on-its-platform) of regulatory frameworks and administrative processes for crypto-linked products. "Cryptocurrency ETFs and mutual funds have been tested through periods of market volatility, performing as designed while maintaining liquidity," said Andrew Kadjeski, head of brokerage and investments at Vanguard [according to CoinDesk](https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/12/01/vanguard-opens-platform-to-crypto-etfs-in-major-shift-bloomberg). The firm treats these funds similarly to gold or other non-core assets, requiring them to meet established regulatory standards [as noted](https://coinpaprika.com/news/vanguard-allows-crypto-etfs-platform-december-2025/).

The move aligns with a broader industry trend. Spot Bitcoin ETFs, which launched in January 2024, have [attracted over $125 billion](https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/crypto-etfs-news-vanguard-approves-trading-for-crypto-etfs/) in assets, with BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) alone managing $70 billion despite recent market corrections.

Vanguard's 50 million brokerage clients, who collectively oversee $11 trillion, now gain access to [regulated exposure](https://crypto2community.com/crypto-news/vanguard-opens-btc-eth-xrp-sol-etf-trading-to-50-million-clients/) to digital assets without directly holding cryptocurrencies. Competitors like Fidelity, Schwab, and Robinhood had already integrated crypto ETFs earlier in 2025, intensifying competitive pressure on Vanguard [according to industry reports](https://coinpaprika.com/news/vanguard-allows-crypto-etfs-platform-december-2025/).

The firm's reversal also reflects evolving investor preferences. Institutional demand for crypto exposure through traditional wrappers has [surged in recent years](https://coinpaprika.com/news/vanguard-allows-crypto-etfs-platform-december-2025/), driven by the sector's rapid growth and the increasing legitimacy of digital assets in mainstream finance. Vanguard's previous stance, championed by former CEO Tim Buckley, who famously declared in 2018 that clients would "never" see a Bitcoin product from the firm, has been replaced by a more pragmatic approach under Ramji [as detailed](https://beincrypto.com/vanguard-crypto-ban-ends-bitcoin-solana-xrp-trading-opens/). This shift underscores the growing influence of blockchain technology and the demand for diversified, low-cost investment vehicles [according to Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-01/vanguard-relents-on-crypto-etfs-will-allow-them-on-its-platform).

Market analysts view the move as a validation of crypto's integration into traditional finance. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas noted that Vanguard's decision could pressure other conservative institutions to follow suit, [further legitimizing](https://en.coinotag.com/vanguard-to-permit-bitcoin-etfs-on-platform-ending-long-standing-crypto-resistance) crypto-linked products. The firm's exclusion of leveraged, inverse, and futures-based crypto products, however, highlights its cautious approach to risk management [as reported](https://coinpaprika.com/news/vanguard-allows-crypto-etfs-platform-december-2025/).

Vanguard's policy change arrives amid a $1 trillion decline in the broader crypto market since October 2025, with Bitcoin trading below $90,000 after reaching a peak of $108,000 in late 2024 [according to data](https://coinpaprika.com/news/vanguard-allows-crypto-etfs-platform-december-2025/). Despite this, crypto ETFs remain one of the fastest-growing fund categories in U.S. history, with over 150 products filed across 35 digital assets [as reported](https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/crypto-etfs-news-vanguard-approves-trading-for-crypto-etfs/). Analysts predict more than 100 new crypto ETFs could launch in the next six months, signaling sustained investor appetite [according to industry forecasts](https://coincentral.com/vanguard-opens-platform-to-bitcoin-xrp-ethereum-and-solana-etfs/).

The firm has no immediate plans to launch its own crypto products, emphasizing its role as a platform for third-party offerings [as stated](https://coinpaprika.com/news/vanguard-allows-crypto-etfs-platform-december-2025/). This strategy aligns with Vanguard's core principles of low-cost, diversified investing while catering to client demand for digital asset exposure [according to market analysis](https://crypto2community.com/crypto-news/vanguard-opens-btc-eth-xrp-sol-etf-trading-to-50-million-clients/). The move also reflects operational readiness, as Vanguard's internal review confirmed the administrative systems to service crypto funds have matured [as confirmed](https://coinpaprika.com/news/vanguard-allows-crypto-etfs-platform-december-2025/).

As the last major U.S. brokerage to open access to crypto ETFs, Vanguard's decision could accelerate institutional adoption and liquidity in regulated markets [according to market analysts](https://en.coinotag.com/vanguard-to-permit-bitcoin-etfs-on-platform-ending-long-standing-crypto-resistance). With the firm's vast client base, even modest participation could inject billions into crypto-linked products, reducing reliance on unregulated exchanges [as noted](https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/crypto-etfs-news-vanguard-approves-trading-for-crypto-etfs/). The shift signals a broader acceptance of digital assets as part of a mainstream investment framework, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the blockchain ecosystem.