In a major new crypto news, Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan has named his four core digital assets amid continued crypto market weakness. He identified Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Chainlink as crypto’s “Mount Rushmore.” He made the remarks as Bitcoin trades more than 40% below its October 2025 all-time high, outlining how he positions capital in the current cycle.
Crypto News: Bitwise CIO Names Major Cryptos
On the When Shift Happens podcast, Hougan said Bitcoin remains the only uncontested leader in its category within the crypto market. He described it as the clear winner in the digital gold and monetary store of value space. According to him, that competitive race has effectively concluded.
He contrasted that clarity with other blockchain sectors. Smart contract platforms, including Ethereum and Solana, compete in growing and more crowded markets. Therefore, he advised investors to own a basket rather than attempt to pick a single long-term winner.
If restricted to one asset, however, Hougan said he would still choose Bitcoin. He argued Bitcoin does not face direct competition for its primary use case. By comparison, Ethereum, Solana, and other platforms operate in markets with greater competitive threats.
Notably, he said Ethereum is the second-largest holding in Bitwise’s main crypto index fund. He described Ethereum as the leading exposure to stablecoins and tokenization. He added that the Ethereum community has shifted focus toward execution and investor alignment this year.
Hougan also said investors can hold both Ethereum and Solana simultaneously. In his view, being bullish on one does not require rejecting the other. Both, he explained, target significant but competitive areas of the crypto market.
Chainlink, Sovereign BTC, and Institutional Outlook
Hougan, who highlighted factors that would lead to a Bitcoin bull market a few days ago, then addressed what he believes the crypto market underestimates. First, he notes the probability of sovereign Bitcoin accumulation. He said markets currently price near zero chance that the United States actively buy Bitcoin beyond seized assets.
He estimated the real probability to be between 10% and 25%. If direct sovereign purchases occur, he said Bitcoin could move toward $500,000 almost instantly. He clarified that he referred to active buying, not asset forfeitures.
According to Hougan, Bitwise already consults with central banks on digital asset strategy. He noted that those processes move slowly, consistent with central bank decision-making cycles. However, he said discussions continue behind closed doors.
He also pointed to sovereign wealth fund participation, including activity in Abu Dhabi and Luxembourg. Beyond sovereign flows, he emphasized accelerating institutional focus on RWA tokenization. He referenced public positions from firms such as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, alongside exchange operators like the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, and Cboe Global Markets.
Within that framework, Hougan justified including Chainlink in his Mount Rushmore list. He argued that if tokenization expands across equities, bonds, and real estate, Oracle infrastructure and stablecoins become essential. In that segment, he said Chainlink holds the leading market position, tying its role directly to broader crypto market growth.
