The latest technology news in the wealth management sector from around the world.

WisdomTree
WisdomTree, a global financial innovator, has just launched the first exchange-traded product (ETP) which provides exposure to the world’s most traded crypto index, the CoinDesk 

The WisdomTree Physical CoinDesk 20 ETP (WCRP) is listed on Deutsche Börse Xetra, the Swiss Stock Exchange SIX, and Euronext exchanges in Paris and Amsterdam. It is designed to offer investors a simple, secure and cost-efficient way of gaining exposure to the CoinDesk 20 Index.

The ETP generates a staking yield based on the portion of the assets which are staked, the firm said in a statement. Staked assets participate in the consensus mechanisms of relevant assets, helping secure their blockchains. WisdomTree Physical CoinDesk 20 has a management expense ratio (MER) of 0.7 per cent â€“ a low fee for an institutional-grade crypto basket ETP.

By offering exposure to the CoinDesk 20 Index, the ETP aims to help investors avoid the complexities of selecting individual assets, providing secure and diversified exposure to about 90 per cent of the crypto market shaping the next wave of innovation. To reflect the dynamic nature of the cryptocurrency industry, the index can evolve over time to represent the largest and most liquid investable crypto assets, the firm continued.

“2024 set the stage for what could be a defining 2025 for the cryptocurrency market. As innovation progresses, regulatory frameworks evolve, and adoption grows steadily, the environment appears increasingly supportive of this asset class,” Dovile Silenskyte, director, Digital Assets Research, WisdomTree, said. “The changing macroeconomic environment may further enhance this outlook, creating conditions that could benefit the cryptocurrency market, including coins beyond bitcoin and ether.” 

“The CoinDesk 20 provides institutional investors with a streamlined way to access the largest digital assets beyond bitcoin. Since its launch in January 2024, it has rapidly become a key benchmark for market participants, with over $14 billion in trading volume – highlighting the growing interest in diversified digital asset exposure,” Alan Campbell, president of CoinDesk Indices, added.

BlackRock, Scalable Capital
Scalable Capital, a digital investment platform in Europe, has just launched a private equity offer together with US-headquartered BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, managing $11.6 trillion in assets under management

Scalable Capital offers investors access to the BlackRock Private Equity Fund via its digital investment platform. The fund is managed by BlackRock, which manages $450 billion in alternative assets. 

After a minimum one-off investment from €10,000 ($10,500), the fund is also available in a savings plan, the firm said in a statement. There are no front-end loads for the fund, which is another step in opening up the entire investment spectrum to long-term oriented investors for their financial future.

The firm highlighted how access to investments in companies not listed on the stock exchange can offer additional return potential and further diversification benefits. Private equity is also a growing investment market with increasing relevance for a risk/return-optimised portfolio.

"As alternative investments such as private equity are becoming increasingly relevant for participation in economic growth, we now make them accessible to our investors," Julius Weller, vice president broker at Scalable Capital, said. "With the expansion of our investment platform to include this segment, clients gain access to the high return potential of private companies. We also achieve the favourable terms and simple handling for private equity that Scalable Capital is known for."

“We’re very excited to introduce our new private equity solution onto Scalable Capital’s investment platform, allowing wealth investors in Germany digital access to BlackRock’s private markets capabilities for the first time,” Christian Bimueller, head of digital distribution continental Europe at BlackRock, added.

Interested parties in Germany can sign up to a waiting list to receive regular updates until the planned start in April. They will also receive information on private markets investments and be the first to find out when the BlackRock Private Equity Fund will be available in the Scalable Broker. Shares can be redeemed for the first time two years after the fund's launch. After that, a sale is possible in general once a quarter.

Due to the long-term nature of the investments, the total of redemptions is limited to 5 per cent of the fund volume. There are no front-end loads nor redemption fees. The management fee for the actively managed fund is 1.95 per cent annually. If the fund exceeds its minimum return, the fund manager also receives a performance-related profit share.