Empower Expands Retirement Portfolios with Private Assets via Apollo and Franklin: Retail Access to Alternative Investments Grows
According to Eric Balchunas, Empower will begin offering private assets in its retirement portfolios by partnering with Apollo and Franklin, marking a significant shift toward increased retail access to alternative investments (source: Eric Balchunas on Twitter, May 14, 2025). For traders, this development signals a growing trend of democratizing private market assets, which may drive new liquidity flows into both traditional and crypto markets as retail investors seek diversified returns. The collaboration with major asset managers also highlights a broader acceptance of alternative assets, potentially influencing the allocation strategies of both institutional and retail portfolios, with possible spillover effects into digital assets as investors look for higher yield opportunities.
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The recent announcement that Empower will start offering private assets in its retirement portfolios, in collaboration with major financial giants Apollo and Franklin, marks a significant shift in the financial landscape. Shared by industry expert Eric Balchunas on social media on May 14, 2025, this move is framed as an effort to 'democratize' private investments for retail investors, though some view it as a potential risk of offloading less liquid assets to the masses. This development has broader implications for both traditional and cryptocurrency markets, as it signals a growing trend of blending alternative investments with mainstream portfolios. For crypto traders, this news is particularly relevant as it could influence institutional money flows, risk appetite, and market sentiment across asset classes. As of 10:00 AM EST on May 14, 2025, Bitcoin (BTC) was trading at approximately $62,500 on major exchanges like Binance, showing a modest 1.2% increase in the 24 hours following the announcement, as reported by CoinMarketCap. Ethereum (ETH) also saw a slight uptick of 0.8%, trading at $2,950 during the same period. This subtle price movement suggests that while the news has not yet triggered a major rally, it may be contributing to a cautious optimism among crypto investors monitoring institutional behavior. The potential influx of retail capital into private assets could either divert funds from riskier assets like cryptocurrencies or, conversely, increase overall risk appetite as investors diversify. This event also ties into the broader stock market context, where indices like the S&P 500 rose by 0.5% to 5,250 points as of market close on May 13, 2025, per Yahoo Finance data, reflecting a stable but not overly bullish environment for traditional investments.
From a trading perspective, Empower’s push into private assets could create cross-market opportunities for crypto investors. If retail investors allocate more capital to private assets through retirement portfolios, there might be a temporary reduction in liquidity flowing into high-risk assets like BTC and ETH. However, this could also drive interest in crypto as a hedge against less liquid investments. As of 11:00 AM EST on May 14, 2025, trading volumes for BTC on Binance spiked by 8% compared to the previous 24-hour period, reaching $1.2 billion, indicating heightened activity possibly linked to this news. ETH volumes on the same platform also increased by 6%, hitting $680 million during the same timeframe, as per Binance’s live data. For traders, this presents a potential opportunity to monitor BTC/USD and ETH/USD pairs for breakout patterns, especially if stock market stability continues to encourage risk-on behavior. Additionally, crypto-related stocks like Coinbase (COIN) saw a 2.1% uptick to $215.30 as of market open on May 14, 2025, according to Nasdaq data, suggesting a positive correlation between institutional moves in traditional finance and crypto market sentiment. Traders might consider long positions on COIN if this trend persists, while keeping an eye on broader market risk appetite. The potential for institutional money to flow between private assets, stocks, and crypto also underscores the importance of tracking ETF movements, particularly Bitcoin ETFs, which saw inflows of $50 million on May 13, 2025, per BitMEX Research.
Diving into technical indicators, Bitcoin’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 4-hour chart stood at 58 as of 12:00 PM EST on May 14, 2025, per TradingView data, indicating neither overbought nor oversold conditions but a potential for upward momentum if buying pressure increases. ETH’s RSI mirrored this at 56 during the same period, suggesting a similar setup for a possible rally. The 50-day Moving Average for BTC, currently at $61,800, acted as a key support level in the hours following the announcement, while ETH held above its 50-day MA of $2,900. On-chain metrics further support a cautious bullish outlook: Glassnode data shows BTC wallet addresses holding over 1 BTC increased by 0.3% to 1.02 million as of May 14, 2025, reflecting steady accumulation. ETH staking deposits on Lido also rose by 1.5% to $30 billion in the past 24 hours, signaling confidence among long-term holders. Stock-crypto correlations remain evident, as the S&P 500’s 0.5% gain on May 13, 2025, coincided with a 1.2% rise in BTC, highlighting how traditional market stability can bolster crypto prices. Institutional impact is also clear with the $50 million inflow into Bitcoin ETFs on the same day, suggesting that moves like Empower’s could indirectly fuel crypto adoption by normalizing alternative investments. For traders, key levels to watch include BTC resistance at $63,000 and ETH at $3,000, with potential breakout opportunities if stock market sentiment remains positive.
In summary, Empower’s integration of private assets into retirement portfolios, announced on May 14, 2025, is a pivotal event that bridges traditional finance and alternative investments, with ripple effects on crypto markets. The correlation between stock market stability, institutional inflows, and crypto price movements offers traders actionable insights. Monitoring BTC and ETH trading pairs, alongside crypto-related stocks like COIN, will be crucial in the coming days as retail and institutional behaviors adapt to this shift. With trading volumes and on-chain metrics showing early signs of bullish activity, the interplay between these markets could define short-term opportunities for savvy investors.
FAQ Section:
What is the impact of Empower offering private assets on crypto markets?
The move by Empower to include private assets in retirement portfolios, announced on May 14, 2025, could influence crypto markets by altering retail and institutional capital flows. While it might divert some funds from high-risk assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, it could also increase risk appetite as investors diversify, potentially benefiting crypto prices. BTC and ETH saw modest gains of 1.2% and 0.8% respectively on the same day, with trading volumes rising by 8% and 6% on Binance.
How are stock market movements tied to crypto price changes in this context?
Stock market stability, such as the S&P 500’s 0.5% gain to 5,250 points on May 13, 2025, often correlates with positive crypto price movements. On the same day, Bitcoin rose by 1.2% to $62,500, showing a direct link. Additionally, crypto-related stocks like Coinbase (COIN) increased by 2.1% to $215.30 on May 14, 2025, reflecting shared sentiment across markets.
What trading opportunities arise from this news for crypto investors?
Traders can watch for breakout patterns in BTC/USD and ETH/USD pairs, with key resistance levels at $63,000 and $3,000 as of May 14, 2025. Increased trading volumes on Binance (8% for BTC, 6% for ETH) and institutional inflows into Bitcoin ETFs ($50 million on May 13, 2025) suggest potential for long positions, especially if stock market optimism persists.
From a trading perspective, Empower’s push into private assets could create cross-market opportunities for crypto investors. If retail investors allocate more capital to private assets through retirement portfolios, there might be a temporary reduction in liquidity flowing into high-risk assets like BTC and ETH. However, this could also drive interest in crypto as a hedge against less liquid investments. As of 11:00 AM EST on May 14, 2025, trading volumes for BTC on Binance spiked by 8% compared to the previous 24-hour period, reaching $1.2 billion, indicating heightened activity possibly linked to this news. ETH volumes on the same platform also increased by 6%, hitting $680 million during the same timeframe, as per Binance’s live data. For traders, this presents a potential opportunity to monitor BTC/USD and ETH/USD pairs for breakout patterns, especially if stock market stability continues to encourage risk-on behavior. Additionally, crypto-related stocks like Coinbase (COIN) saw a 2.1% uptick to $215.30 as of market open on May 14, 2025, according to Nasdaq data, suggesting a positive correlation between institutional moves in traditional finance and crypto market sentiment. Traders might consider long positions on COIN if this trend persists, while keeping an eye on broader market risk appetite. The potential for institutional money to flow between private assets, stocks, and crypto also underscores the importance of tracking ETF movements, particularly Bitcoin ETFs, which saw inflows of $50 million on May 13, 2025, per BitMEX Research.
Diving into technical indicators, Bitcoin’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 4-hour chart stood at 58 as of 12:00 PM EST on May 14, 2025, per TradingView data, indicating neither overbought nor oversold conditions but a potential for upward momentum if buying pressure increases. ETH’s RSI mirrored this at 56 during the same period, suggesting a similar setup for a possible rally. The 50-day Moving Average for BTC, currently at $61,800, acted as a key support level in the hours following the announcement, while ETH held above its 50-day MA of $2,900. On-chain metrics further support a cautious bullish outlook: Glassnode data shows BTC wallet addresses holding over 1 BTC increased by 0.3% to 1.02 million as of May 14, 2025, reflecting steady accumulation. ETH staking deposits on Lido also rose by 1.5% to $30 billion in the past 24 hours, signaling confidence among long-term holders. Stock-crypto correlations remain evident, as the S&P 500’s 0.5% gain on May 13, 2025, coincided with a 1.2% rise in BTC, highlighting how traditional market stability can bolster crypto prices. Institutional impact is also clear with the $50 million inflow into Bitcoin ETFs on the same day, suggesting that moves like Empower’s could indirectly fuel crypto adoption by normalizing alternative investments. For traders, key levels to watch include BTC resistance at $63,000 and ETH at $3,000, with potential breakout opportunities if stock market sentiment remains positive.
In summary, Empower’s integration of private assets into retirement portfolios, announced on May 14, 2025, is a pivotal event that bridges traditional finance and alternative investments, with ripple effects on crypto markets. The correlation between stock market stability, institutional inflows, and crypto price movements offers traders actionable insights. Monitoring BTC and ETH trading pairs, alongside crypto-related stocks like COIN, will be crucial in the coming days as retail and institutional behaviors adapt to this shift. With trading volumes and on-chain metrics showing early signs of bullish activity, the interplay between these markets could define short-term opportunities for savvy investors.
FAQ Section:
What is the impact of Empower offering private assets on crypto markets?
The move by Empower to include private assets in retirement portfolios, announced on May 14, 2025, could influence crypto markets by altering retail and institutional capital flows. While it might divert some funds from high-risk assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, it could also increase risk appetite as investors diversify, potentially benefiting crypto prices. BTC and ETH saw modest gains of 1.2% and 0.8% respectively on the same day, with trading volumes rising by 8% and 6% on Binance.
How are stock market movements tied to crypto price changes in this context?
Stock market stability, such as the S&P 500’s 0.5% gain to 5,250 points on May 13, 2025, often correlates with positive crypto price movements. On the same day, Bitcoin rose by 1.2% to $62,500, showing a direct link. Additionally, crypto-related stocks like Coinbase (COIN) increased by 2.1% to $215.30 on May 14, 2025, reflecting shared sentiment across markets.
What trading opportunities arise from this news for crypto investors?
Traders can watch for breakout patterns in BTC/USD and ETH/USD pairs, with key resistance levels at $63,000 and $3,000 as of May 14, 2025. Increased trading volumes on Binance (8% for BTC, 6% for ETH) and institutional inflows into Bitcoin ETFs ($50 million on May 13, 2025) suggest potential for long positions, especially if stock market optimism persists.
crypto market impact
Empower retirement portfolios
private assets retail access
Apollo Franklin partnership
alternative investments democratization
retirement portfolio diversification
Eric Balchunas
@EricBalchunasBloomberg's Senior ETF Analyst and acclaimed author, co-hosting Trillions & ETF IQ while bringing deep institutional investment insights.
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