Bitcoin made headlines once again as it surged nearly 6% at the US market open, coinciding with a major policy shift by investment giant Vanguard. For the first time, Vanguard allowed clients to trade spot Bitcoin ETFs on its platform, resulting in a massive uptick in activity.
According to Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas, this change had an immediate impact. He noted that BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) recorded an eye-popping $1 billion in trading volume within just the first 30 minutes of the trading day. This figure is exceptionally high even by crypto standards and shows the pent-up demand from investors previously restricted by Vanguard’s policy.
Why Vanguard’s Move Matters
Until now, Vanguard had resisted offering access to Bitcoin ETFs, citing concerns over cryptocurrency volatility and long-term investment strategy misalignment. Its stance contrasted with other major brokerages like Fidelity and Charles Schwab, which embraced crypto products earlier.
Vanguard’s sudden reversal marks a major shift in traditional finance’s approach to digital assets. With one of the largest client bases in the U.S., this opens the Bitcoin ETF market to a whole new wave of retail and institutional investors.
This development could further legitimize spot Bitcoin ETFs in the eyes of conservative investors and could signal a broader wave of adoption within the wealth management sector.
INSIGHT: Eric Balchunas said $BTC spiked about 6% at the US open on the first day after Vanguard lifted its ETF ban, noting IBIT traded $1B in volume in the first 30 minutes. pic.twitter.com/l5xYVXlPwB
— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) December 2, 2025
Bitcoin Price Reacts to Demand Surge
The price of Bitcoin reacted swiftly to the uptick in ETF demand, jumping roughly 6% at the start of the U.S. trading session. While crypto prices are often volatile, such a strong move aligned directly with the Vanguard news signals how tightly Bitcoin’s price is now tied to ETF activity.
Analysts believe that if this level of interest continues, especially from previously untapped markets, Bitcoin ETFs like IBIT could soon set new records in trading volume and inflows.