BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, made waves this week by advising investors to consider allocating up to 2% of their portfolios to Bitcoin. This recommendation is based on Bitcoin's historically low correlation with traditional asset classes like stocks and bonds, making it a valuable tool for diversification in a well-balanced portfolio. BlackRock emphasized Bitcoin's potential as a hedge against inflation and geopolitical uncertainties, aligning with its growing acceptance as "digital gold."

However, the firm also cautioned about Bitcoin's notorious price volatility, urging investors to approach with caution, maintain a long-term perspective, and regularly review their positions to mitigate risks. This endorsement by BlackRock further solidifies Bitcoin's position as a legitimate and increasingly mainstream investment asset, reflecting its evolving role in institutional portfolios.

This sentiment was mirrored in the strong Bitcoin ETF flows this week, with significant activity led by BlackRock’s IBIT fund, which dominated inflows. Overall, Bitcoin ETFs saw robust totals as institutional interest remained steady, underscoring the growing confidence in Bitcoin’s role in diversified investment strategies.

Ethereum ETFs saw net inflows of $831.2 million so far this week, reflecting strong institutional confidence in Ethereum's ecosystem. BlackRock’s ETHA fund played a pivotal role, contributing significantly to the week’s totals with robust activity, particularly on December 12th.

This rise in ETF flows underscores Ethereum’s enduring appeal as the leading platform for decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). With its ongoing focus on scalability through Layer-2 rollups and growing adoption across diverse sectors, Ethereum continues to solidify its position as a cornerstone in the digital asset market.

Ripple’s XRP saw continued growth this week, with a 5.2% increase, driven by optimism surrounding its expanding role in cross-border payment solutions and ongoing developments in its ecosystem. Recent partnerships and advancements in regulatory clarity have reinforced XRP’s appeal among institutions and retail investors alike.

Alongside XRP’s performance, Metal Blockchain led gains with an 11.2% rise, followed by Hedera and XPR Network, which increased by 9.8% and 9.6% respectively. Bitcoin maintained its upward trajectory with a 1.3% increase, reflecting steady interest across the broader market.

Solana (SOL) Now Available on Metal Pay!

We’re thrilled to announce that Solana (SOL) is now available for trading on Metal Pay! Known for its lightning-fast transactions and low fees, Solana has gained immense popularity, especially among younger crypto enthusiasts and the vibrant memecoin community. With full support for Solana Mainnet users can withdraw their assets directly to Solana blockchain, so whether you're looking to explore its expansive ecosystem or add SOL to your portfolio, Metal Pay makes trading it simple and seamless.

Click here to start trading SOL on Metal Pay.

As the holiday season approaches, the crypto community is gearing up for celebrations, and Metal Pay is kicking things off with the 12 Days of Christmas! Starting today, enjoy 12 days of free trading on Metal Pay, with each day featuring a special token available for free trading.

It’s the perfect time to explore new tokens or stack up on your favorites without fees. Stay tuned for today’s featured free-trading token—we’ll notify you via email, push notifications, and posts on our social media channels.

Let the festive trading begin!