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Ahmed Barakat
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U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs turned negative at the end of last week, ending a nine-day inflow streak that had brought in a total of $2.8 billion. Meanwhile, Robert Mitchnick, BlackRock’s head of digital assets, said the CLARITY Act is less critical for Bitcoin than for the rest of the crypto market.
That places more attention on altcoins, DeFi, and other complex crypto categories, where the regulatory picture remains unsettled. For Bitcoin, Mitchnick said institutional investors are not treating additional legislation as part of their base case, viewing regulatory progress as potential upside rather than a requirement.
Mitchnick told CNBC that Bitcoin’s rally while equities struggled reflected its distinct risk and return drivers rather than old risk-on behavior. He said the move could not be explained as an equity-beta trade, pointing to Bitcoin-specific flows and the debasement trade.
Investors concerned about global debt and deficits are increasingly drawn to Bitcoin, according to Mitchnick, while younger demographics are favoring it over gold for a store-of-value role. He characterized that as Bitcoin’s long-term narrative.
The ETF data provides a measure of current demand. IBIT led last Thurday’s inflows with $277 million. Mitchnick said the fund continues to resonate with institutional investors, financial advisers, and direct investors. Cumulative net inflows stood at $55 billion, while total net assets reached $98.6 billion as Bitcoin traded near $78,500.
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CLARITY Act Status and Where the Regulatory Gap Matters
Mitchnick said the CLARITY Act matters more for assets connected to DeFi and other complex crypto categories. Those areas remain part of a broader regulatory picture that he described as unsettled, in contrast with Bitcoin’s comparatively broader regulatory acceptance.
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BlackRock has also expanded its crypto product lineup to Ethereum with non-staking and staking products. The firm added a Bitcoin premium income product this summer that is designed to let investors retain most of Bitcoin’s upside while generating an annual yield and moderating volatility.
On stablecoins, Mitchnick said BlackRock sees growth opportunities beyond crypto trading, including cross-border payments and capital markets, with Genius Act implementation approaching.
Congress.gov lists H.R. 3633, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025, as having passed the House. Its latest listed action is an August 8, 2026, Senate cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure. The bill had not reached the enacted-into-law stage in the available record.
Mitchnick’s distinction remains that Bitcoin’s institutional case does not depend on further legislation as a base-case assumption, while the regulatory picture for DeFi and other complex crypto categories remains unsettled.
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