Gold and bitcoin are in the spotlight again - and for good reason. In this special narrative format episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido weaves together expert insights from previous Bid episodes to explain why interest in gold and bitcoin is rising now and what investors should consider before treating them as portfolio diversifiers.

You’ll hear from BlackRock experts about gold’s enduring role and how growth fears, geopolitics, the U.S. dollar and real interest rates shape demand; and about bitcoin’s design - digital assets, blockchain, cross-border payments - and engineered scarcity, plus the reality of cycles and operational considerations and how both can fit into a portfolio alongside traditional holdings.

Check out the previous episodes in full:

133. The Next Gold Rush - original air date June 16th 2023: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7IWodwijM5Ybq1QvwOQBkw

161. Crypto Currency Decoded - original air date Jan 19th 2024: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Rcxfg9rci1ZXniqRKbtRp?si=HnSkLmPsTyeSrK2LXLbwVA

Key moments in this episode

00:00 Introduction: Gold and Bitcoin in Focus

02:14 The Role of Gold in Portfolios

02:58 Gold's Relationship with Economic Factors

05:49 Gold as a Diversifier and Inflation Hedge

09:02 Transition to Bitcoin: Digital Scarcity

09:42 Understanding Bitcoin and Digital Assets

12:19 Bitcoin's Volatility and Market Cycles

13:37 Bitcoin's Growing Accessibility

15:30 Comparing Gold and Bitcoin as Diversifiers

17:11 Conclusion: Preparing Portfolios with Gold and Bitcoin

Featured experts:

Gargi Pal Chaudhuri —Chief Investment & portfolio Strategist (gold)
Robbie Mitchnick — Head of Digital Assets (bitcoin & blockchain)
Samara Cohen — Global Head of Market Development for BlackRock , and formerly Chief Investment Officer, ETF and Index Investments (bitcoin)
Jay Jacobs — U.S. Head of Equity ETFs (portfolio construction)

Sources: CFA Institute report "Gen Z and Investing: Social Media, Crypto, FOMO, and Family," May 2023; Coin Metrics, as of Aug. 2023. Bitcoin predominance based on its market cap of $530B which accounts for 50% of the total market cap of all crypto-assets excluding stable coins; The Global Findex Database 2021 identifies opportunities for increasing financial inclusion, July 2022; CoinGecko, as of Jan. 2. 2023. Bitcoin predominance based on its market cap of $860 billion, which accounts for 51% of the $1.7 trillion total market cap of all cryptoassets, excluding stablecoins

gold; bitcoin; diversification; portfolio diversifiers; real interest rates; U.S. dollar; central bank buying; stagflation; digital assets; blockchain; cross-border payments; fixed supply; volatility; correlation; ETFs; access & integration; risk management; rebalancing; inflation

This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to any company or investment strategy mentioned is for illustrative purposes only and not investment advice. In the UK and Non-EEA countries, this is authorized and regulated by the FCA. In the EEA, it is authorized and regulated by the AFM. For full disclosures, visit blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures.

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235: Gold and Bitcoin as Portfolio Diversifiers: Why Interest Is Rising Now

The Bid