Robbie Mitchnick, BlackRock’s digital assets leader, stated in a recent interview that Bitcoin has been incorrectly labeled by some in the crypto space. He articulated that there’s a misconception projecting Bitcoin as synonymous with high-risk equities.

Mitchnick remarked, “What’s happened a little bit in the crypto industry is a bit of an own goal.” He explained how some crypto commentators extrapolate that because Bitcoin is inherently risky, it fits the profile of a risk-on asset akin to stocks.

In a Bitcoin white paper recently published by BlackRock, the asset manager categorized Bitcoin as a “unique diversifier,” underscoring its role as a buffer against both monetary and geopolitical uncertainties. Mitchnick expressed that Bitcoin represents a new form of global money—it’s a scarce and decentralized asset devoid of country-specific risks.

“It confuses investors when people talk about it as risk-on because based on the properties I just described, you would think of it as risk-off.”

Risk-on assets generally thrive in favorable economic conditions, including tech stocks and certain commodities. Conversely, risk-off assets perform better in times of economic instability, such as gold and government bonds.

Mitchnick also highlighted that only a handful of events each year meaningfully affect Bitcoin’s intrinsic value. Currently, BlackRock manages a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), allowing investors to engage with Bitcoin more directly.

Speculations Surrounding Bitcoin’s Future

Recently, discussions about Bitcoin have intensified, especially in light of forecasts made by crypto analyst PlanB. He has proposed a scenario predicting Bitcoin might surpass $1 million by the close of 2025.

In a recent post, PlanB outlined that if political shifts occur, specifically if Trump secures a win in the next election, the perceived “war on crypto” might end, potentially driving Bitcoin’s value to $100,000. The prediction for 2025 suggests that U.S. crypto firms could return, escalating Bitcoin’s price to about $200,000, before further increases to $400,000 later that year.

The forecast indicates that intense market enthusiasm could catapult Bitcoin to the $1 million mark by late 2025, though many critics labeled the outlook as overly optimistic.

Comments on the post reflected doubts about the feasibility of such predictions, with some crypto enthusiasts humorously stating they would make bold claims if the forecasts materialized.