Vanguard CEO Tim Buckley announced his retirement at the end of the year, but this is unlikely to change the firm's stance on Bitcoin and crypto products. The company is looking for a replacement from internal and external candidates and has promoted Chief Investment Officer Greg Davis to President.

Vanguard has drawn attention for not supporting spot Bitcoin ETFs, with Buckley stating in October 2023 that he doesn't believe crypto has intrinsic value. Buckley and Vanguard have been long-time critics of Bitcoin and crypto, with similar sentiments expressed in 2018.

This anti-Bitcoin stance is shared by other Vanguard executives. Janel Jackson, Global Head of ETF Capital Markets and Broker and Index Relations, and Andrew Kadjeski, Head of Brokerage & Investments, explained in a January 24 note that Vanguard views crypto as speculative, lacking economic value and maturity, and potentially disruptive to portfolios. Kadjeski added that Bitcoin's volatility might tempt investors, but Vanguard prioritizes long-term investments and savings.

Despite these views, Greg Davis has previously called blockchain "quite compelling" and mentioned that Vanguard uses blockchain technology for receiving certain index data. However, the firm has no plans to launch a Bitcoin ETF or offer crypto-related products.