Bitwise CIO, Metaplanet President And More Reject Bear Market Talk

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan has predicted an ‘ETF Festival’ in 2026, pushing back against bear market fears.

Speaking to CNBC on 19 November 2025, Hougan said that with the US government reopening and related legislation advancing, the crypto market could see an “ETF Palooza.” He expects over 100 new crypto ETFs/ETPs to launch, with index-based crypto ETPs set to become the most significant growth segment next year.

Furthermore, Hougan said that the new wave of investors prefers to “buy a basket of crypto assets for long-term holding” rather than betting on a single blockchain.

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan says with the U.S. government reopening and new legislation moving forward, 100+ new crypto ETFs/ETPs could launch soon.

The next big wave? Index-based crypto baskets

And yes… XRP is quietly positioning itself to be one of the biggest winners in this… https://t.co/HI0q6nLmkY pic.twitter.com/OY5pMtpDrY

— Xaif Crypto| (@Xaif_Crypto) November 19, 2025

Hougan’s prediction of an explosion of crypto ETFs comes at a time when the market is visibly struggling and Bitcoin is experiencing a sharp correction from its recent highs.

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Bitcoin briefly dropped below $90,000 this week, declining nearly 27.5%. Despite this significant pullback, Hougan remains unfazed. And so does Simon Gerovich.

DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025

“Our Strategy Remains Unchanged,” Says Metaplanet’s Simon Gerovich

Following Bitcoin’s struggle, the Tokyo-listed company’s CEO took to X to say that “Even on days like today, our strategy remains unchanged. While short-term movements can be unsettling, our focus continues to be on long-term value creation.”

After reporting a strong Q3, Metaplanet revealed that Fidelity International purchased 3 million shares of the company worth $7.42 million. “Asia’s Microstrategy” continues to be one of the most aggressive Bitcoin buyers.

今日のような相場でも、当社の戦略は変わりません。短期的な価格変動がご心配をおかけすることもあるかと思いますが、当社は今後も長期的な価値の積み上げに注力してまいります。

Even on days like today, our strategy remains unchanged. While short-term movements can be unsettling, our focus…

— Simon Gerovich (@gerovich) November 18, 2025

Meanwhile, Hougan said that “Bitcoin’s service lies in its capacity to securely store wealth in a digital format without the need for a government, banking institution, or other intermediaries.”

DISCOVER: Next 1000X Crypto: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025

The UAE And Abu Dhabi Investment Council Triple Bitcoin Bet

Bitwise and Metaplanet are not alone. On 20 November 2025, an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund raised its holdings in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) from 2.4 million to 8 million shares.

Speaking to Bloomberg, an ADIC spokesperson said, “We see Bitcoin playing an increasingly important role alongside gold; both assets contribute to diversifying our portfolio, and we expect to hold them as part of our near and long-term strategy.”

Abu Dhabi’s wealth arm quietly tripled its stake in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF before the recent crypto selloff now holding nearly 8M shares.

Despite BTC’s volatility and big November outflows, ADIC says it’s building a long-term “store-of-value” position alongside gold. pic.twitter.com/RiPXP2iGPV

— Menthor Q (@MenthorQpro) November 19, 2025

Moreover, Harvard University’s endowment increased its Bitcoin exposure by 257% during Q3 2025. It accumulated 6.8 million shares of IBIT.

Explore: Bitcoin Prediction for November 2025: Saylor Keeps Buying the Dip

Key Takeaways

Despite short-term volatility, Hougan maintains an extraordinarily bullish long-term outlook. In an early November memo, he cited macro strategist Jordi Visser’s view that Bitcoin is in a “silent IPO” phase.

Drawing a parallel to Microsoft, Hougan noted that society readily understands how to value services. “The value of Microsoft’s shares correlates with the demand for its service,” he stated, arguing that Bitcoin follows a similar demand curve.