Just saw some explosive news—the Bank of America has finally given the green light!

Starting January next year, more than 15,000 of their financial advisors will be able to openly tell clients: “Hey, consider putting 1% to 4% of your assets into cryptocurrency.”

What does this mean? To put it simply, digital assets like Bitcoin have been completely “whitewashed” in the mainstream US financial world. The things that Wall Street elites used to avoid like the plague are now becoming legitimate portfolio options. Merrill Lynch’s high-net-worth clients—the truly wealthy—can finally pour money into crypto through the traditional channels they trust most. Top picks? Of course, BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC spot Bitcoin ETFs.

What’s my take on this? Don’t just get caught up in the short-term hype—look at the logic behind it.

In the short term, this news will definitely excite the market. But more importantly, the long-term impact is huge—it proves once again that “compliance” and “institutionalization” have become the unstoppable main trends in this market.

For us retail investors, this is both an opportunity and a challenge. Where’s the opportunity? When the big players enter, they give the market credibility and create a more solid capital base. The challenge? The game will increasingly resemble traditional finance, and the days of making money just by gambling on luck or chasing hype will get tougher and tougher.

So what should retail investors do?

**Adjust your mindset.** Stop dreaming that you can just randomly pick an altcoin and get 100x returns with your eyes closed. Look at Bank of America’s stance—they’re only recommending compliant, regulated spot ETFs with strict position control (maximum 4%). What does that tell you? “Risk management” and “asset allocation” are the keys to long-term survival.

**Optimize your portfolio structure.** Lock at least half of your core holdings in Bitcoin. This is what institutions are buying with real money. Want high returns? Fine, use a small position to chase hot trends—don’t bet your entire net worth.

**Patience is king.** The shift in attitude from these giants didn’t happen overnight, and capital inflows will also be gradual. Don’t expect a single piece of news to send the market soaring instantly.

One last interesting point: even Vanguard, historically the world’s most anti-crypto asset management giant, has changed its stance and started allowing Bitcoin ETF trading. So who’s left as the biggest bears in this market?

What retail investors need to do is “wait patiently for opportunities, and strike hard, accurately, and decisively when the time comes.”