3 highlights from the Bitcoin conference: What do they mean for ETF investors?

By Matt Mena

The Bitcoin Conference 2025 wrapped up with headline-making announcements that reinforced Bitcoin’s growing role in mainstream finance. For ETF investors, the event served as a crucial checkpoint, offering a fresh perspective on how digital assets are shaping up as a long-term investment theme. Below are three key highlights that could impact the trajectory of Bitcoin and other crypto ETFs in the days ahead.

1. VP Vance pitches Bitcoin strategy

For months, crypto investors have watched and waited for meaningful federal engagement with Bitcoin policy. In a historic first, sitting Vice President JD Vance took the stage at the Bitcoin Conference and signaled that the Trump administration would prioritize digital asset leadership as a pillar of national strategy.

Vance outlined a forward-looking crypto agenda aimed at establishing lasting regulatory clarity, including:

• The BITCOIN Act (spearheaded by Sen. Lummis) to formally create a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
• The GENIUS Act to advance stablecoin legislation
  
• A comprehensive crypto market structure bill to define oversight and compliance standards

This sentiment was echoed by SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce and Strategy’s Michael Saylor, who both emphasized the need for clear, durable rules to ensure long-term innovation and institutional confidence and to position America as the global capital of crypto. Separately, in a move to stimulate economic growth, Pakistan unveiled a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), inspired by the US model. 

The Trump administration’s proactive approach could be a game-changer for crypto ETF investors. By reducing regulatory uncertainty and laying a durable legal foundation, the roadmap strengthens Bitcoin’s standing as a legitimate, investable asset. It may also lead to accelerating ETF product development, institutional adoption, and capital inflows.

2. NYC Mayor proposes ‘BitBond’

New York City Mayor Eric Adams called for the repeal of the state’s BitLicense, labeling it outdated and a major obstacle to crypto innovation. The BitLicense has long been criticized for its high compliance costs and regulatory uncertainty, which have driven startups out of New York. In its place, Adams is pushing for a more welcoming environment to attract crypto businesses and talent.

He also proposed a first-of-its-kind “BitBond”,  a state-backed municipal bond collateralized with Bitcoin. The initiative aims to integrate Bitcoin into the city’s financial infrastructure and reestablish New York as a global hub for digital assets.

As a key financial hub, New York City plays a pivotal role in shaping the crypto market’s infrastructure. Regulatory easing in the state could unlock substantial institutional capital by allowing more crypto firms to operate, scale, and offer custody services locally. This, in turn, would enhance the reliability and accessibility of Bitcoin markets, providing a stronger foundation for ETF products and improving the integrity of ETF-based exposure to crypto assets.

3. Bitcoin miners seek new revenue streams 

Following the 2024 Bitcoin halving, which cut mining rewards from 6.25 to 3.125 BTC per block, miner profitability became a key concern. The topic remained front and center at the Bitcoin Conference, highlighting ongoing debates about the economic sustainability of mining.

With future halvings set to bring rewards below 1 BTC by 2032, the question for investors is: how will the network remain economically secure? Currently, on-chain activity and transaction fees aren't enough to fully compensate for the declining block rewards. This has raised legitimate concerns about whether miners will remain incentivized to secure the network in the long run.

That’s where BTCFi and Bitcoin Layer 2s come in, offering a pathway to unlock new use cases that could drive higher transaction volumes and fee revenue. Projects like Core, Babylon, and Maple are already enabling staking, lending, and smart contract capabilities on Bitcoin, drawing in significant total value locked (TVL) and sparking a rise in fee-generating activity.

For ETF investors, these developments are more than just technical upgrades, they represent structural improvements to Bitcoin’s long-term investment case. A vibrant Layer 2 ecosystem and broader BTCFi adoption could ensure miners stay economically motivated, even as rewards decline. This strengthens Bitcoin’s security model and enhances its appeal as a durable, decentralized asset, which is a critical attribute for long-term ETF investors.

Conclusion

The 2025 Bitcoin Conference marked a pivotal shift in Bitcoin's role: from a speculative asset to a strategic, sovereign-grade reserve. With the US formalizing Bitcoin reserves and corporations and financial institutions integrating BTC into their strategies, Bitcoin is evolving into a core asset in the global financial system. 

Record inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs, driven by institutional demand, highlight this transformation. For ETF investors, this signals Bitcoin’s growing credibility as a long-term portfolio asset, potentially enhancing price discovery, liquidity, and reducing volatility, all of which support sustained ETF performance.

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