BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Admits He Was Wrong on Bitcoin as IBIT Hits New Milestone

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has said he was wrong about Bitcoin and crypto in earlier views. He called Bitcoin an “asset of fear” and tied ownership to worries about safety and money. Those remarks came during comments on how markets respond to changing risk.

Bitcoin Moves on Fear and Macro Shifts

Recent price action, in his view, reflects shifts in global tension. He cited the U.S.-China trade agreement as a moment when reduced fear coincided with a downward move.

Talks this week about a possible settlement in Ukraine also came up. Bitcoin slipped after those discussions, he said, as expectations adjusted.

He pointed to deficits and what he described as debasement of financial assets. Physical security concerns were cited as one motive for holding Bitcoin. 

Financial security worries were named as another. He also referenced a drawdown of about 20% to 25% and said it was the third such decline since IBIT was created, referring to BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF.

Non-correlated shifts were mentioned as part of Bitcoin’s recent behavior. He framed that pattern as potentially relevant to its role in a portfolio, without calling it stable. 

A challenge to the “insurance” idea was addressed with an example: buying near $125,000 and later seeing the price in the above $90,000  range. That outcome, he said, depends on whether the position was meant as a trade or a hedge.

BTC Volatility Meets Surging IBIT Options

Volatility remains a major risk for short-term strategies. He said successful trading requires precise market timing, which most participants lack.

A hedge approach, he added, can still influence portfolio results in a meaningful way. Leverage remains a major issue, according to Fink, because leveraged players still exert heavy influence on Bitcoin’s market.

Interest in crypto-linked derivatives are gaining popularity in the U.S. markets. BlackRock spot Bitcoin ETF options have exploded in popularity since launching. IBIT contracts are now among the top 10 United States options markets based on open interest, along with names like major stocks, ETFs and indices.

Data from optioncharts showed IBIT options open interest at 7,901,926 contracts as of today. This total the ninth largest in a source’s U.S. list. The placement was completed only a year following the ETF’s launch, affirming continued interest in the ETF.