Following Blackrock, the largest asset manager globally, filing for a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ran Neuner, host of Crypto Banter, stated during an interview with Michelle Makori, lead anchor for Kitco News, that he believes the asset manager has “no malicious intent.” Neuner additionally expressed his view that the price of bitcoin could potentially double next year, stating that this is on the “conservative” side.
Crypto Banter Host Ran Neuner Bullish About Blackrock Spot Bitcoin ETF Filing
Many members of the crypto community have been engaged in discussions regarding institutional interest in the crypto economy, which has increased following Blackrock’s filing for a spot bitcoin ETF. While the filing has sparked institutional interest and led to a rise in crypto prices, there are speculations suggesting that the firm’s move might be a “coordinated attack.” Some individuals have presumed that the filing strangely occurred shortly after the initial wave of enforcement actions known as “Chokepoint 2.0” targeting influential entities within the crypto industry.
During a recent interview with Michelle Makori, lead anchor and editor-in-chief for Kitco News, Ran Neuner, the host of Crypto Banter, expressed his belief that Blackrock’s intentions are not malicious, despite the rumors and criticism circulating on social media. Some crypto enthusiasts have scrutinized the details of Blackrock’s ETF filing, noting a mention of a hard fork, leading to speculation that Blackrock could take control of development and split the network. “That is not a theory I’m concerned about, to be honest,” Neuner emphasized to Makori.
“Whether or not one party owns all the bitcoin won’t make bitcoin centralized,” Neuner insisted to the show host. “The only way that that can change is if the majority of the miners, over 50 percent of the miners around the world, agree that the rules need to change … Regardless of who owns the bitcoin, the mining still remains decentralized.”
Neuner expressed his viewpoint that Blackrock’s spot bitcoin ETF, combined with the upcoming halving scheduled for April 20, 2024, will drive the price upwards. Neuner stated his belief that the price could potentially reach “much higher” levels, doubling its current value. “I’m just being conservative,” he told the Kitco News show host. “I think [the Blackrock ETF] could be a game changer,” Neuner stated. “If you get a bitcoin spot ETF, you now really open all of this money coming into crypto with an easy way to access this asset.”
Although Neuner’s theory is plausible, there were complaints following the approval of a spot gold ETF by the U.S. in 2004, as it faced accusations of price manipulation and suppression. In the interview, Neuner also discussed U.S. presidential candidates who have expressed support for Bitcoin (BTC), such as Francis Suarez, Ron DeSantis, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Vivek Ramaswamy. Neuner views the increasing number of candidates endorsing BTC as a positive development that brings the topic into the spotlight.
“Most of the candidates that have put their hats in the ring … have taken a favorable position on bitcoin and crypto,” Neuner explained. “The market is telling you, and the politicians are telling you, that bitcoin is an election issue.”
What are your thoughts on Ran Neuner’s optimism toward the Blackrock Spot Bitcoin ETF filing? Share your thoughts and opinions about this subject in the comments section below.
