币界网报道：BlackRock CEO Larry Fink highlighted Bitcoin's growing legitimacy as an asset class during a recent interview, stating that the cryptocurrency's recent price surge reflects "a flight to quality" amid global economic uncertainties. The world's largest asset manager, overseeing $10 trillion, has seen its spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) accumulate over $10 billion in assets since January launch, signaling institutional adoption. Fink acknowledged Bitcoin's evolution from its controversial past, noting that BlackRock's involvement has helped change perceptions: "We've made Bitcoin more respectable." He revealed surprising demand from pension funds and insurance companies for crypto exposure, though cautioned these institutions remain in early exploratory phases. The CEO positioned Bitcoin as "digital gold" and a hedge against currency risks, particularly in nations with unstable currencies, while distinguishing it from broader blockchain applications in financial markets. BlackRock's crypto strategy appears bifurcated - pursuing Bitcoin as a store of value while separately developing tokenization projects through its BUIDL platform, which has attracted $500 million in assets for blockchain-based treasury management. Fink's comments come as Bitcoin trades near all-time highs around $70,000, with BlackRock's ETF becoming the fastest-growing in history. The executive stopped short of predicting price targets but emphasized Bitcoin's maturing market structure through regulated financial products, marking a stark contrast to his 2017 characterization of Bitcoin as "an index of money laundering."