Fear of a global economic recession continues to drive investors away from risk-on assets like Bitcoin.
Bitcoin (BTC) price experienced a 5% gain between Aug. 13 and Aug. 14, reaching $61,791, before quickly reversing the entire move, falling to $58,914 in under two hours. This abrupt downturn occurred after the United States reported an inflation figure that slightly undercut analysts' expectations. The initial price surge was driven by significant announcements concerning spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and MicroStrategy (MSTR) holdings, but macroeconomic conditions ultimately proved decisive on Aug. 14.
Goldman Sachs, a leading global financial institution, disclosed new spot Bitcoin ETF holdings totaling $418 million in its 13-F filing, reflecting positions as of June 30. The allocation spanned multiple providers, including BlackRock, Fidelity, Invesco, and Grayscale. While it remains unclear whether these investments were made by external fund managers or Goldman’s internal asset management team, this marks a significant milestone, as the firm oversees $2.81 trillion in assets under management.
Not all asset managers have embraced such investments. According to CNBC, JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo continue to restrict their financial advisors from recommending spot Bitcoin ETFs. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley, one of the world’s largest wealth management firms, only approved the distribution and sale of spot Bitcoin ETFs through its 15,000 financial advisors as recently as Aug. 7. Consequently, Goldman’s allocation could potentially set a precedent that encourages its competitors to follow suit.
