BlackRock InciShares Bitcoin Trust saw over $1 billion inflows, boosting BlackRock's ETF business.

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan warns that the traditional 60/40 portfolio is 100% exposed to fiat currency, as investors poured a record $7 billion into gold and Bitcoin funds in just five days. Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas calls this the debasement trade, a bet on assets no government can print, which has now stolen the spotlight from AI funds. SPDR Gold Shares took in $3.4 billion in the week through August 21, while BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust added over $1 billion, and the VanEck Semiconductor ETF bled $1.7 billion. The trigger is Washington's debt crossing $40 trillion and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's decision to double long-bond buybacks to at least $4 billion per operation starting September 9. Central banks have already shifted, with gold reaching 27% of their reserves, overtaking US Treasuries at 22%. Bitcoin trades near $79,144, up 0.55% in 24 hours, while IBIT is still down roughly 10% this year after nursing a 33% loss as recently as June.
BlackRock InciShares Bitcoin Trust saw over $1 billion inflows, boosting BlackRock's ETF business.
Bitwise CIO's warning highlights the debasement trade, potentially attracting assets to its funds.