BlackRock’s iShares platform kicked off 2026 with a record-breaking quarter, pulling in $132 billion in net inflows, up nearly 60% year over year, as investors doubled down on ETFs for both income and flexibility. The asset manager said 49 of its products each attracted more than $1 billion during the quarter, underscoring broad-based demand across its $5.5 trillion ETF platform.

But beneath the headline number, the flows reveal a more telling shift: investors are leaning heavily into fixed income and actively managed strategies, while favoring short-duration exposure in a still elevated rate environment.

Bond ETFs Take Center Stage

Fixed income emerged as a key growth engine, with iShares…

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent Elon Musk a letter Tuesday demanding answers about X Money by April 21, citing concerns that the upcoming payments platform could pose risks to consumers, national security, and financial stability.

The 13-Question Demand

Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Committee, is pressing Musk on whether X Money will issue a stablecoin, partner with Cross River Bank, offer 6% APY on deposits, and surveil consumer transaction data.

The letter comes as Musk prepares to launch X Money in early public access this month.

Former X CEO Linda Yaccarino said the platform will allow users to fund their X Wallet using Visa’s Direct service, connect to debit cards for…

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The crypto industry may be approaching a defining regulatory moment as U.S. lawmakers advance discussions around the CLARITY Act, a proposal designed to bring long-awaited structure to digital asset oversight.

For years, uncertainty has shaped how crypto companies operate in the United States. Ongoing turf battles between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have left firms navigating an unclear system, where the same asset could be viewed as a security in one context and a commodity in another.

The CLARITY Act aims to resolve this ambiguity by defining regulatory jurisdiction and establishing clearer rules for market participants. At a time…

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The IMF warns that global public debt could reach about 100% of world GDP by 2029, a scenario where Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) could stand out as investors seek alternatives outside traditional finance.

The 100% Debt Trap

Global public debt approaching 100% of GDP means that every dollar, yuan, pound, euro, yen, and rupee earned in a year will be used to pay off government debt. 

By 2029, the debt load will have grown to consume the entire global economic output, leaving nothing for additional investments.

China and the U.S. will continue to drive debt higher, with contributions from a broad range of nations as defense spending surges globally, according to the IMF.

If annual economic growth…

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A large-scale shift in wealth from older generations to younger investors could significantly boost long-term demand for digital assets such as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and the broader crypto market.

$110 Trillion Wealth Transfer In Motion

Data from Grayscale Investments suggests that Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation currently hold around $110 trillion in assets in the United States.

Over time, this wealth is expected to be passed down to Millennials and Gen Z, groups that show a much stronger preference for crypto investments.

Analysts estimate that even a modest reallocation, around 2% of transferred wealth, could translate into approximately $2.2 trillion in potential crypto inflows,…

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The Surprising Performance

Bitcoin has performed well since the start of the Iran conflict on February 28, catching many off guard. The S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) lost 1% over the same period.

Many assumed Bitcoin would fall during a risk-off geopolitical shock. Some pundits argued geopolitics is irrelevant for Bitcoin, while others pointed to war-driven money printing as the explanation.

Both arguments are wrong, according to Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan. Bitcoin’s strength during this crisis stems directly from the conflict itself.

The Two Bets

Buying Bitcoin makes two bets at once. First, you’re betting Bitcoin will become “digital gold” and compete with physical gold in the $38 trillion store…

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