Vanguard, the $8 trillion US asset manager, will allow crypto-focused ETFs and mutual funds to trade on its platform from December 2, ending its long-standing refusal to support digital asset products. 

The decision marks a major shift for the world’s second-largest asset manager and opens regulated crypto access to more than 50 million brokerage customers.

Vanguard Abandons Its Anti-Crypto Policy

The firm confirmed it will support products that hold Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana, and other regulated cryptocurrencies. 

However, it will continue to block funds tied to meme coins and will not launch its own digital asset products.

Starting tmrw vanguard will allow ETFs and MFs tracking bitcoin and select other cryptos to begin trading on their platform. They cite how the ETfs have been tested performed as designed through multiple periods of volatility. Story via @emily_graffeo pic.twitter.com/AKhMdR7pab

— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) December 1, 2025

Vanguard spent years resisting crypto exposure and repeatedly framed Bitcoin and other digital assets as speculative. 

The company rejected spot Bitcoin ETFs after their January 2024 debut and even restricted customer purchases of competing funds. 

For years, Vanguard executives argued that crypto lacked intrinsic value, produced no cash flows, and did not fit long-term retirement strategies.

However, persistent demand pressured the firm to rethink its stance. Bitcoin ETFs became one of the fastest-growing product categories in US fund history, with BlackRock’s IBIT alone gathering tens of billions in assets. 

This scale, combined with a steady shift in investor preferences, weakened the rationale for exclusion.

Vanguard 2024: “#Bitcoin isn’t a store of value. We’ll never offer ETFs.”

Vanguard 2025: “Bitcoin trading starts tomorrow.” pic.twitter.com/dBysvngja7

— TFTC (@TFTC21) December 1, 2025

Leadership Changes Helped Clear the Path

The policy shift follows more than a year of internal debate. Vanguard’s former CEO, Tim Buckley, was widely seen as the main opponent of crypto adoption. 

His departure and the appointment of Salim Ramji — a former BlackRock executive with experience in blockchain initiatives — signaled a potential pivot.

Ramji did not push the firm toward issuing its own crypto funds but supported granting customers access to regulated products. 

That move aligns crypto with Vanguard’s treatment of other non-core assets, such as gold ETFs.

Market Conditions Did Not Stop the Move

The reversal comes during a deep crypto drawdown and heavy ETF outflows since early October. Bitcoin’s market value has fallen sharply, and leveraged positions have suffered heavy losses. 

Yet Vanguard said digital asset ETFs have continued to operate smoothly and maintain liquidity through volatile periods.

The firm noted that operational processes for servicing crypto products have matured since 2024. It added that its clients increasingly expect access to a wide range of asset classes through a single brokerage platform.

Vanguard *finally* caves…

Will now allow spot crypto ETF trading on brokerage platform.

Includes btc, eth, xrp, & sol ETFs.

However, Vanguard reiterates that they have *no* plans to launch own spot crypto ETFs.

via @emily_graffeo pic.twitter.com/QFvF8BZTWt

— Nate Geraci (@NateGeraci) December 1, 2025

What the Decision Means for Investors

Starting Tuesday, Vanguard customers can buy and sell most regulated crypto ETFs and crypto-focused mutual funds. The company will still screen products for compliance and will exclude any vehicle tied to SEC-defined memecoins.

Vanguard stressed that it has no plans to build proprietary crypto offerings.

Instead, it aims to accommodate diverse risk profiles while maintaining its conservative product philosophy.

The move is likely to strengthen digital asset legitimacy across traditional finance. It also marks a symbolic turning point for a firm long considered crypto’s most persistent holdout.

The post Vanguard Reverses Years-Long Crypto Ban With New Trading Features From Tomorrow appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Washington state regulators have ordered CoinMe to halt all money-transfer activity after accusing the crypto ATM operator of treating more than $8 million in customer funds as its own revenue. 

The Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) issued an emergency cease-and-desist order on December 1, citing “unsafe and unsound practices.”

Regulator Flags Misuse of Customer Money

DFI said CoinMe failed to safeguard money that consumers paid for crypto vouchers. Instead, the company allegedly counted unclaimed or expired voucher balances as income.

According to the filing, customers bought vouchers at CoinMe kiosks but never redeemed them. Washington law requires companies to hold those funds as consumer property or turn them over as unclaimed assets.

However, DFI says CoinMe treated the balances as corporate revenue. The regulator argues this harmed consumers and distorted the company’s financial condition.

Because of these findings, DFI ordered CoinMe to stop all money-transfer and kiosk-related operations in the state. The company cannot accept new funds from Washington consumers under the order.

Officials also said they will seek restitution for affected customers. The agency signaled plans to revoke CoinMe’s state money-transmitter license.

The cease-and-desist order lists several other violations. These include failing to maintain required net worth, keeping inaccurate records, and submitting incorrect filings.

DFI also noted that some CoinMe vouchers displayed a support phone number that no longer worked. The regulator said this contributed to poor consumer protection.

A Significant Blow to a Major Cash-to-Crypto ATM Network

This action marks one of the most serious state enforcement moves against a US crypto ATM operator. CoinMe operates one of the largest cash-to-crypto networks in the country.

The case highlights growing scrutiny of crypto on-ramps that handle physical cash. Regulators expect these companies to follow the same standards as traditional money-transmitters.

CoinMe can contest the order, but Washington regulators appear prepared to escalate the case. If the state revokes the company’s license, CoinMe will lose the ability to operate any money-transfer service in Washington.

Meanwhile, DFI urged affected customers to prepare claims for potential refunds. The agency’s priority, it said, is protecting consumers who rely on licensed firms to securely handle their money.

The post Washington Shuts Down Crypto ATM that Claimed $8 Million in User Funds as Income appeared first on BeInCrypto.

MicroStrategy suffered a catastrophic start to December as its market cap briefly fell below the net value of its Bitcoin holdings, exposing the company to renewed concerns about leverage, liquidity, and investor confidence.

Shares collapsed early Monday, dropping to $156, which pushed MicroStrategy’s valuation to $45 billion. 

Wall Street Nightmare For MicroStrategy?

The company currently holds 650,000 BTC worth roughly $55.2 billion, making this drop a rare moment where Wall Street valued the business at less than its underlying assets.

However, MicroStrategy also carries $8.2 billion in debt. After subtracting that debt and adding the firm’s $1.4 billion cash reserve, the company still holds about $48.4 billion in net Bitcoin value. 

This means the stock fell $3.4 billion below its Bitcoin-adjusted worth at the session low.

MicroStrategy's Current Situation:

1. Bitcoin holdings: $55.2 billion
2. Debt holdings: $8.2 billion
3. Cash reserve (announced today): $1.4 billion
4. Bitcoin holdings – Debt + Cash: $48.4 billion
5. Market cap of $MSTR: $45 billion

MicroStrategy's NET Bitcoin holdings are… https://t.co/Ii4T6dEFo8

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) December 1, 2025

The disconnect shocked traders. MicroStrategy normally trades at a premium because markets price in Michael Saylor’s aggressive Bitcoin strategy, future BTC purchases, and the stock’s role as a regulated Bitcoin proxy. 

Yet Monday’s sell-off forced the premium into one of its tightest ranges of the year.

Such a bad take.

A) Bitcoin price would crash if Saylor sold. And there’s not enough liquidity to exit the position. He is the liquidity. Institutions have been net sellers.

B) Debt isn’t free. There’s regular interest payments. Therefore he must sell more shares in perpetuity. pic.twitter.com/fsChvN4DHW

— Beanie (@beaniemaxi) December 1, 2025

By midday, the company’s mNAV ratio—which measures how far the stock trades above or below Bitcoin net asset value—recovered to 1.16, far below the levels seen earlier in 2025. 

The reading shows the market now values MicroStrategy only 16% above its Bitcoin holdings, compared with premiums exceeding 50% during the year’s rally.

A Critical Risk Period for MicroStrategy and Bitcoin

The sharp repricing reflects rising investor fears. Bitcoin has dropped from $125,000 to $85,500 since October, erasing tens of billions in paper value from MicroStrategy’s balance sheet. 

The decline coincided with tightening liquidity, falling ETF inflows, and an industry-wide reset in risk appetite.

Concerns about Saylor’s long-term strategy also resurfaced. Critics argue the company’s debt must be serviced regardless of Bitcoin’s performance, increasing pressure to raise new capital or sell more shares. 

Others warn that MicroStrategy’s position is now so large that Saylor cannot reduce risk without destabilizing the market.

Still, the company remains the largest corporate Bitcoin holder in the world, and its holdings continue to exceed its market cap. 

The rebound later in the day shows investors are not abandoning the stock, but they are reassessing the risks more aggressively than at any point this year.

MicroStrategy begins December with its tightest valuation gap in years, signaling a turning point in how markets view the company’s leveraged Bitcoin strategy. 

Whether this marks a temporary panic or the start of a deeper correction will depend on Bitcoin’s stability and the company’s next moves.

The post MicroStrategy’s Market Cap Falls Billions Below Its Bitcoin Holdings appeared first on BeInCrypto.

The XRP Ledger recorded an abnormal surge in AccountSet and AMM Bid transactions this week, triggering widespread discussion across crypto Twitter. The ledger processed more than 40,000 AccountSet transactions in late November, marking its highest configuration activity in years.

The activity continued even after BitGo ended its batch updates. This indicates new actors are preparing or reconfiguring large numbers of accounts, rather than routine custodial adjustments.

What the AccountSet Surge Indicates

AccountSet transactions update settings, including security flags, AMM (Automated Market Maker) permissions, and multi-sig configurations. They are typically used when institutions prepare accounts for new services or liquidity operations.

Someone is doing a lot of AccountSet TXs on the XRP Ledger recently. Even after BitGo stopped. pic.twitter.com/rhdYGqFzLr

— Vet (@Vet_X0) November 29, 2025

Therefore, a spike of this magnitude suggests structured onboarding. Analysts believe this may involve custodians, market makers, or automated systems configuring XRPL accounts at scale.

The pattern resembles network preparation rather than retail behavior. 

Previous spikes linked to custodial maintenance did not reach current levels, reinforcing the view that new participants are entering the network.

🚨 Something’s happening on the XRP Ledger.

According to XRPL Metrics, activity just exploded:
📈 Over 40,000 “AccountSet” transactions, the highest in years.
💧 A sharp spike in AMM bids right after November 23.
Imo, it’s network preparation.

With RLUSD approvals, AMM rollout,… pic.twitter.com/g1a5fUKYT9

— Arthur (@XrpArthur) December 1, 2025

AMM Bid Activity Signals Liquidity Positioning in XRP

AMM Bid transactions also surged after November 23. These transactions help liquidity providers bid for AMM auction slots and position themselves within XRPL’s automated market-maker pools.

The sharp rise suggests liquidity actors are preparing to secure early positions. Early bids often capture the most profitable rewards, making the timing significant.

The AMM spike coincides with broader XRPL developments. RLUSD approvals, AMM rollout progress, and institutional onboarding have all accelerated in recent weeks. This offers a possible explanation for the sudden liquidity movement.

PODCAST: Tokenization is just step one, now what do we do with the assets?@RippleXDev's Jasmine Cooper explains why the next wave for the XRP Ledger is on-chain collateral management, repos and credit origination turning RWAs into real value for institutions. pic.twitter.com/S2MTJ0j7pm

— BeInCrypto (@beincrypto) December 1, 2025

XRP ETF Inflows Add Another Layer of Context

The surge also follows the debut of spot XRP ETFs in the United States. The products accumulated $643.92 million in net inflows and reached $676.49 million in total ETF assets. 

Inflows increased on nine of the last ten sessions, showing strong institutional demand.

While ETF inflows do not directly interact with the XRP Ledger, they influence how custodians manage XRP storage and security. 

Large ETF demand can trigger new institutional custody accounts, reconfigured storage systems, expanded wallet infrastructure, and preparation for higher settlement activity. These processes often involve AccountSet transactions. 

Therefore, the ETF wave may be indirectly contributing to the configuration spike.

Implications for the Market

The combined surge in configuration and AMM activity signals structural preparation beneath the XRP ecosystem. This type of activity often precedes network upgrades, liquidity expansion, or new institutional pipelines.

Although XRP price remains volatile, the ledger’s data suggests increasing backend activity. Market watchers view the patterns as early indicators of broader engagement, rather than isolated anomalies.

some fun tinkering this weekend!

a cool visualisation of live transactions on the xrp ledger.

the blockchain never stops.

even on weekends! pic.twitter.com/UvcekHq4n1

— Phil Kwok | EasyA (@kwok_phil) November 30, 2025

For now, developers have not commented publicly. 

However, the coordinated rise in AccountSet and AMM Bid transactions points to meaningful infrastructure changes underway on the XRP Ledger.

The post XRP Ledger Activity Suddenly Exploded This Week, What Is It Signalling appeared first on BeInCrypto.