Bitcoin News Today: Vanguard's Pivotal Shift: 50M Investors Gain Regulated Crypto ETF Access

Vanguard Group, the $11 trillion asset manager, has [reversed its long-standing skepticism](https://coinpedia.org/crypto-live-news/vanguard-opens-its-platform-to-crypto-etfs-and-funds/) toward digital assets by allowing trading of regulated cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds on its platform starting December 2, 2025. The move, which follows years of resistance, [grants its 50 million brokerage clients access](https://beincrypto.com/vanguard-crypto-ban-ends-bitcoin-solana-xrp-trading-opens/) to funds tracking Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana, and other compliant digital assets. The firm will exclude products linked to memecoins and will not launch its own crypto offerings, [maintaining a cautious stance](https://coincentral.com/vanguard-opens-platform-to-bitcoin-xrp-ethereum-and-solana-etfs/) while aligning with investor demand.

The decision marks a pivotal shift for Vanguard, which previously framed cryptocurrencies as speculative and unsuitable for long-term retirement strategies. Former CEO Tim Buckley had [dismissed Bitcoin ETFs as inappropriate](https://www.tradingview.com/news/cointelegraph:7a61ab679094b:0-vanguard-s-50m-clients-will-soon-have-access-to-crypto-etfs/) for traditional portfolios, but his departure and the appointment of Salim Ramji-a former BlackRock executive with blockchain expertise-signaled a strategic pivot. Ramji [supported granting clients access](https://en.coinotag.com/vanguard-allows-bitcoin-etf-trading-amid-crypto-market-shifts) to regulated crypto products without directly entering the market, treating them similarly to non-core assets like gold.

The change comes amid surging demand for crypto ETFs, which have become one of the fastest-growing fund categories in U.S. history. BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), for instance, [amassed $70 billion in assets](https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/12/01/vanguard-opens-platform-to-crypto-etfs-in-major-shift-bloomberg) despite recent market corrections. Vanguard cited improved operational maturity for servicing crypto products and [noted that client expectations increasingly demand](https://beincrypto.com/vanguard-crypto-ban-ends-bitcoin-solana-xrp-trading-opens/) access to diverse asset classes through a single platform.

While the broader crypto market has faced volatility and outflows since October, Vanguard emphasized that digital asset ETFs have maintained liquidity and functioned as designed during turbulent periods. The firm's head of brokerage and investments, Andrew Kadjeski, stated, "[Cryptocurrency ETFs and mutual funds have been tested](https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/crypto-etfs-news-vanguard-approves-trading-for-crypto-etfs/) through periods of market volatility, performing as designed while maintaining liquidity." This pragmatic approach reflects a balance between accommodating investor preferences and upholding Vanguard's conservative risk philosophy.

The move is expected to bolster the legitimacy of digital assets in traditional finance, particularly as competitors like BlackRock and Fidelity have already capitalized on the ETF boom. [Analysts suggest Vanguard's entry could catalyze](https://cryptonews.com/news/vanguard-opens-platform-crypto-linked-etfs-mutual-funds/) further institutional adoption, though the firm's exclusion of memecoins and refusal to launch proprietary products underscore its cautious alignment with regulatory standards.