VanEck’s $118B Asset Management Pumps Crypto Optimism

Today, VanEck manages $118.3 billion in assets, offering investment products such as ETFs, mutual funds, institutional accounts, and UCITS funds. 

What they are becoming even more well-known for, though, is their focus on digital assets. Recently, they released key predictions for the crypto market in 2025, signaling confidence in blockchain, decentralized finance (DeFi), and AI systems.

The firm forecasts a robust crypto market with Bitcoin reaching $180,000, Ethereum at $6,000, Solana at $500, and Sui at $10 by the year's end. While a medium-term peak is expected in Q1, new all-time highs are anticipated by Q4.

VanEck expects the U.S. to embrace Bitcoin as part of a strategic reserve, believing President-elect Trump will be a man of his word. This move and anticipated SEC leadership changes could lead to approvals for spot crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs). Ethereum ETPs are projected to integrate staking and enable in-kind redemptions, enhancing blockchain adoption within traditional finance.

DeFi is poised to hit $4 trillion in decentralized exchange volumes and $200 billion in total value locked. Stablecoins may triple daily settlement volumes to $300 billion, driven by adoption in global commerce and remittances. Tokenized securities, expected to surpass $50 billion in value, could migrate from private to open-source blockchains, unlocking market potential.

VanEck also predicts that one million AI agents will emerge by 2025, fueling gaming, DeFi, and social media activity. Ethereum's Layer-2 scaling solutions could generate $1 billion in fees, while Bitcoin Layer-2 adoption might triple the total value locked to 100,000 BTC. NFT trading volumes, recovering from previous declines, are expected to rebound to $30 billion, driven by culturally relevant and innovative projects. The largest NFT platform, OpenSea, recently hinted at an upgrade.

A few years ago, no one would touch Bitcoin or crypto, but today, it appears to be the talk of the town.