BlackRock's Fink at WEF: A Crypto Catalyst? Exploring 3 Potential Gainers
📌 The Fink Factor: BlackRock's CEO and the World Economic Forum
Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, has rapidly transformed one of the world's leading financial institutions into a significant crypto player. Much like Michael Saylor's impact on Bitcoin treasuries with MicroStrategy, Fink has revolutionized the ETF landscape.
- BlackRock’s $IBIT leads Bitcoin ETF offerings with a market cap of approximately $87 billion.
- BlackRock's $ETHA dominates Ethereum ETFs with a market cap of $14 billion.
💰 Now, with Fink appointed as interim co-chair of the World Economic Forum (WEF), alongside Roche’s André Hoffmann, questions arise: Will the WEF adopt a more explicitly pro-crypto stance? And which cryptocurrencies stand to benefit most?
Fink's Appointment: A Potential Shift in Direction
Fink's appointment coincides with the conclusion of an internal WEF investigation that cleared founder Klaus Schwab of any material wrongdoing. The WEF presents this move as part of a broader initiative to 'strengthen the organization.'
Fink and Hoffmann have emphasized the need to revitalize public-private cooperation in an increasingly 'fragmented' world.
For the crypto community, the key takeaway is that the foremost figure in institutional crypto exposure now holds a formal position within one of the world’s most influential financial platforms.
📌 BlackRock ETFs: A Dominant On-Ramp to Crypto
BlackRock’s dominance in spot crypto ETFs, particularly with iShares Bitcoin Trust ($IBIT) and iShares Ethereum Trust ($ETHA), has established regulated channels through which institutional investors, including pensions, RIAs, corporations, and even sovereign wealth funds, can access $BTC and $ETH at scale.
Ether ETFs recently experienced record single-day inflows, surpassing $1.02 billion, with BlackRock’s ETHA capturing $640M in a single session. Earlier this summer, IBIT's holdings exceeded 700,000 BTC, further demonstrating its market influence.
💧 Beyond ETFs, BlackRock has also spearheaded tokenization within traditional finance (TradFi). Its $BUIDL fund, a tokenized U.S. dollar liquidity fund issued on Ethereum, launched in March 2024 and surpassed $1 billion in AUM by March 2025. This initiative has since expanded to include share classes across multiple chains.
$BUIDL serves as a practical bridge between on-chain finance and institutional balance sheets. Notably, the WEF already manages programs related to digital assets, such as the Digital Currency Governance Consortium (DCGC) and the Crypto Sustainability Coalition. These programs, initiated between 2021 and 2022, have seen reduced activity recently. With Fink's involvement, there is anticipation that tokenization, ETF-based access, and sustainability narratives will gain prominence, potentially revitalizing these earlier initiatives.
The likely outcome isn’t necessarily a singular policy directive. Instead, expect a faster convergence on best practices for custody, market data, disclosures, and interoperability. These are areas where BlackRock has demonstrated operational expertise and achieved considerable success, which could translate into global standards.
📌 Three Cryptocurrencies to Watch
Given Fink's new role at the WEF, here are three crypto projects that could experience significant growth:
1. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) – A Next-Generation Bitcoin Layer 2
Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) aims to deliver a faster Bitcoin experience by combining Bitcoin’s Layer 1 with the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM).
📝 This approach results in a high-speed Layer 2 solution that leverages the SVM's transaction speeds and smart contract capabilities while maintaining final transaction settlement on the Bitcoin network.
💱 In this system, $BTC tokens are deposited into the Bitcoin Canonical Bridge and then appear on the Hyper Layer 2 as wrapped $BTC. These tokens can then be staked, utilized in liquidity pools, and engaged in DeFi activities.
Bitcoin Hyper is designed to provide investors with a seamless way to utilize Bitcoin across the crypto economy.
2. Best Wallet Token ($BEST) – A Utility Token for the Best Wallet
💱 Web3 wallets are evolving into comprehensive gateways to DeFi and various crypto tools. Non-custodial wallets, which grant users control over their private keys, are becoming increasingly important. As the saying goes: ‘Not your keys, not your crypto.’
Best Wallet is a non-custodial wallet offering innovative features. Users can swap, send, and store crypto, as well as access and purchase promising presales.
The $BEST token is central to the Best Wallet ecosystem. Holding $BEST offers lower trading fees and enhanced staking rewards within the wallet.
3. Chainlink ($LINK) – Bridging Blockchains and TradFi
🔗 The crypto ecosystem is fragmented, and Chainlink ($LINK) helps bridge this gap. As an oracle network, Chainlink feeds real-world data into blockchains, enabling smart contracts to execute accurately based on various data points, including price feeds and timestamps.
⚖️ Chainlink has evolved beyond a basic oracle network. It connects blockchains and traditional finance. It secures data, offers cross-chain interoperability, and provides decentralized computations that allow finance to operate on-chain and blockchains to access financial networks.
Chainlink’s notable partners include:
- Swift
- Euroclear
- Mastercard
- Fidelity
$LINK is the network’s utility token, with revenue from on-chain and off-chain operations contributing to a substantial reserve.
Chainlink’s performance has been notable, rising by 143% in the past year.
📌 Will Fink Drive Real Change at WEF?
⚖️ Making fundamental changes to the global economic order extends beyond simply appointing an interim head of the WEF. Real change will still depend on the actions of regulatory bodies such as the SEC, ESMA, FCA, MAS, and other agencies.
However, Fink's appointment, combined with the scale of IBIT and ETHA, record ETF inflows, and BlackRock’s push for tokenization, could shift the global conversation toward recognizing crypto as core market infrastructure rather than a speculative asset.
📌 Key Stakeholders' Positions
A summary of key stakeholders’ positions:
| Stakeholder |
Position |
Impact on Investors |
| Larry Fink (BlackRock) |
🏛️ Pro-crypto, focuses on institutional integration |
📈 Increased access to crypto via ETFs, tokenization |
| World Economic Forum (WEF) |
Potentially more open to crypto discussions |
Possible standardization and best practices |
| ⚖️ Regulatory Agencies (SEC, ESMA) |
⚖️ Ultimate decision-makers on crypto regulation |
💰 Significant influence on market accessibility |
📌 🔑 Key Takeaways
- BlackRock's leadership in Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, spearheaded by Larry Fink, provides significant institutional on-ramps for crypto investments.
- Fink’s appointment at the World Economic Forum (WEF) may lead to increased discussion and adoption of best practices for crypto, including tokenization and standardization.
- Projects like Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), Best Wallet Token ($BEST), and Chainlink ($LINK) could benefit from Fink's influence, potentially becoming attractive investment opportunities.
- Investors should monitor regulatory developments from bodies like the SEC and ESMA, as these will continue to significantly impact the crypto market's accessibility and growth.
- The convergence of traditional finance (TradFi) and crypto, accelerated by BlackRock's initiatives, presents both opportunities and risks for investors.
🔮 Thoughts & Predictions
BlackRock's influence in the crypto space is undeniable. With Fink now at the WEF, expect a push for clearer global standards, particularly around custody and disclosures. However, don't anticipate overnight policy changes; the real power lies with regulatory agencies like the SEC, who will likely take a measured approach. The growth of Bitcoin Hyper, Best Wallet Token, and Chainlink is contingent on broader market trends and adoption rates, but Fink's position could certainly provide a tailwind. Investors should watch how TradFi continues to integrate with crypto, as that's where BlackRock is focusing. In the medium term, look for tokenization to gain more traction and ETF-based access to expand, potentially driving up the value of well-positioned projects.
🎯 Investor Action Tips
- Research projects like Bitcoin Hyper, Best Wallet Token, and Chainlink to understand their potential use cases and scalability solutions fully.
- Track the inflows into BlackRock's IBIT and ETHA ETFs as indicators of institutional interest and market sentiment towards Bitcoin and Ethereum.
- Monitor discussions and policy proposals from the World Economic Forum (WEF) regarding digital assets, as these may signal future regulatory directions.
- Diversify your portfolio across various crypto sectors and asset classes to manage risk effectively in response to evolving market conditions.
📘 Glossary for Investors
⚖️ AUM (Assets Under Management): The total market value of the assets that a financial institution manages on behalf of its clients.
⚖️ Tokenization: The process of converting rights to an asset into a digital token that can be transferred and recorded on a blockchain.
🧭 Context of the Day
BlackRock's growing influence over crypto ETFs and now at the WEF suggests a significant shift towards institutional integration and standardization within the digital asset space.
