Vanguard recently announced that beginning December 2, 2025, Vanguard customers with brokerage accounts can now purchase certain, regulated, third-party mutual funds and ETFs that are associated with cryptocurrency. This marks a big moment in Vanguard’s history, especially after years of firm resistance to cryptocurrency. The development is a clear shift in their stance, yet the company is still handling digital assets with plenty of caution.
Vanguard claimed for many years that cryptocurrency is too volatile to possibly considered appropriate to hold in a long-term retirement account. This has been the rationale for denying requests to list things like spot Bitcoin ETFs and other similar products.With the new policy in place, Vanguard now treats crypto-linked funds the same way it handles other non-traditional asset classes.
What This Means for Investors
Vanguard oversees $11 trillion in assets and serves tens of millions of clients. Many of these investors prefer to keep their holdings under one roof for tax planning, reporting, and convenience. Until now, anyone interested in crypto exposure through regulated products often needed a second account at a different brokerage. The new policy removes that extra step and allows clients to pursue this exposure inside familiar systems.
Some investors may also look to independent market overviews in light of these updates, like Best Altcoins to Invest in, to get a clearer sense of which emerging assets are gaining traction. For example, in December 2025, Ethereum continues to hold a leading position among altcoins. It benefits from an active community of developers and steady progress on upgrades intended to support decentralized applications. Bitcoin Hyper has drawn interest for its attempt to provide a faster and more scalable environment for activity tied to the Bitcoin network. Maxi Doge, or MAXI, remains driven by online culture and community participation, attracting traders who follow short-term momentum and social-driven trends.
These examples illustrate how different the altcoin space can be in purpose and temperament. Some projects focus on infrastructure, others focus on culture and community sentiment. Investors who explore these areas can gain an additional sense of the range of assets that now fit within the larger crypto market.
Why Vanguard Updated Its Policy
Vanguard stated that the current group of crypto-linked funds has met its internal requirements related to liquidity, regulatory oversight, and the operational work needed to support trading. The firm noted that its brokerage systems can now handle these products with consistency and without additional strain.
Points to Consider
The updated policy does not guarantee that every crypto fund will appear on the platform. Vanguard will still decide which products meet its standards. Crypto-linked funds involve noticeable price swings, and altcoins vary widely in purpose, stability, and community interest. Tokens such as Bitcoin and Ethereum highlight the variety of approaches that define the market.
Investors who choose to add exposure may benefit from a measured approach. Vanguard’s change gives them another regulated option, but the fundamental risks of digital assets remain. A careful assessment of personal risk tolerance and investment goals still plays the central role in determining whether crypto-linked funds belong in a portfolio.
