Vanguard Caves! đŸ˜± Crypto at Last?

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It seems the monolithic Vanguard, that bastion of sensible shoes and cautious investment, is finally deigning to acknowledge the existence of cryptocurrency. One gathers they’ve been peering at the figures (and, no doubt, fielding complaints from clients with rather more adventurous tastes) and decided that even they can’t ignore ten trillion reasons to join the party. Or, rather, to allow others to dabble with the party poppers on their behalf. A truly lamentable surrender to modernity.

Vanguard Lays Groundwork For Crypto ETFs

According to a report, emanating, naturally, from the reliably breathless “Crypto in America,” a source – one assumes a disgruntled junior executive desperate for a bit of excitement – has confided that Vanguard is ‘laying the groundwork.’ How terribly industrious. They’re not actually *launching* anything themselves, good heavens, no. That would be positively vulgar. But they might consider letting their customers access the ETFs concocted by less discerning firms. The as-yet-unspecified timetable for this momentous decision remains shrouded in the usual corporate obfuscation.

“They’re being very methodical,” the source chirped, as if thoroughness were a virtue in a field predicated on speculative frenzy. “Understanding the dynamics have been changing since 2024.” One imagines they’ve only just noticed; the rest of us have been rather loudly informed for some time.

The recent shift in regulatory winds, courtesy of previous administrations, has undoubtedly greased the wheels. The SEC, after years of stern pronouncements and pointed fingers, now appears
 amenable. Really, it’s all frightfully convenient, isn’t it? A bit like discovering one enjoys sherry after years of insisting on dry martinis.

The SEC’s new listing standards and cheerful acceptance of index funds containing these digital baubles have, predictably, caused a flurry of activity. Apparently, even the most respectable institutions can’t resist a bit of bandwagon-jumping.

Initial Rejection Of Crypto Related Products

Vanguard’s rather new CEO, Salim Ramji – a chap who spent a decade at BlackRock, purveyors of some rather successful Bitcoin ETFs – is, one infers, the architect of this strategic U-turn. One suspects he remembers what success looks like. BlackRock, bless their capitalistic hearts, have amassed a rather alarming $80 billion in assets with their digital offerings. Naturally, Mr. Ramji is being watched like a hawk, and everyone is wondering if he’s simply attempting to mimic his former boss, Larry Fink. Honestly, the imitation game is becoming rather tiresome.

Just last year, Vanguard were publicly dismissing the entire notion of Bitcoin ETFs, declaring they wouldn’t be available on their platform. This pronouncement, predictably, caused a minor revolt amongst their clientele, with threats of account closures flying about like confetti. One can only imagine the horror in the upper echelons. The tyranny of the consumer, you see.

At a conference, Mr. Ramji reiterated his firm’s commitment to avoiding direct competition. He tactfully avoided commenting on the prospect of allowing access to other people’s crypto ETFs. A subtle distinction, naturally.

And now? Well, now that crypto ETFs have started to perform adequately, opinions appear to have ‘evolved’. One suspects ‘evolved’ is code for ‘realised there’s money to be made’. It’s a rather unromantic but entirely predictable development. 🙄

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2025-09-27 10:26