Vanguard to Allow Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Solana ETFs on Its Platform
Vanguard will permit regulated crypto ETFs and mutual funds holding Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP and Solana (SOL) to trade on its brokerage platform starting Tuesday. The policy reverses Vanguard’s earlier reluctance while keeping direct crypto custody and spot coin trading off the platform. Vanguard said the move reflects tested ETF performance through market volatility, maturing administrative procedures and rising investor demand. It will support most SEC‑ and regulator‑approved crypto ETFs and mutual funds but exclude memecoin‑linked products and unapproved funds. Vanguard — which manages trillions in assets and serves roughly 50 million clients — will not launch its own crypto products for now. The change could broaden regulated retail and institutional flows into BTC, ETH, XRP and SOL ETFs, reinforcing the role of spot and backed ETFs as a mainstream gateway to U.S. crypto exposure.
Bullish
Allowing BTC, ETH, XRP and SOL ETFs on Vanguard’s brokerage is likely bullish for the mentioned coins. Vanguard’s platform gives access to millions of retail and institutional accounts and can channel sizable, regulated inflows into listed ETFs. In the short term, the announcement can trigger buying pressure as allocators and retail investors rotate into compliant ETF wrappers rather than riskier custody options. Historical precedent — large inflows into spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs since their debuts — suggests new distribution points increase demand and price support. Over the medium to long term, enabling ETF access at a major custodian strengthens on‑ramp liquidity and legitimizes ETF products, which can sustain higher baseline demand and reduce volatility tied to custody concerns. Limitations: Vanguard excludes memecoin products and won’t offer direct coin custody, which tempers speculative spillover; the net effect remains most positive for the specific supported assets (BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL) rather than the broader altcoin market.