BlackRock CEO Larry Fink says he is no longer concerned about excessive leverage in the Bitcoin market.
Earlier this Wednesday, he told CNBC that the cryptocurrency has become considerably more stable after speculative positions ended up being washed out.
Fink stated that he “was always worried about the leverage in Bitcoin and crypto.”
According to the BlackRock chief, that dynamic has largely changed. “That's why we had to wash out,” he added. “And I think there's more stability at these levels here.”
AI driving profitability
Much of the interview focused on artificial intelligence rather than cryptocurrencies. Fink argued that demand for computing infrastructure continues to outpace supply and that the United States risks falling behind.
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Fink expressed strong optimism about financial markets over the coming year. He has argued that advances in artificial intelligence will continue driving corporate profitability. “I'm very bullish on the markets over the next 12 months,” he said.
Fink attributed that optimism to rapid technological innovation. “I think the technological revolution is going to power better margins for more companies.”
He pointed to BlackRock itself as an example of how AI is already improving efficiency. “We've raised our margins... by 260 basis points over the last 12 months. A lot of it is using more and more technology.”
Later in the interview, Fink explained how artificial intelligence is transforming the firm's internal operations. “We're able to use technology to process more trades, to process more activities,” he said.
Fink's Bitcoin transformation
For years, the BlackRock CEO was openly skeptical of cryptocurrencies. In 2017, he described Bitcoin as an “index of money laundering.” He then changed his tune in 2023. Back then, BlackRock filed for what would become the industry's largest spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund. Around that time, Fink described Bitcoin as an “international asset” that could serve as a hedge against currency debasement. He has then argued that Bitcoin is “digital gold” and a portfolio diversifier.
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