Hunter Horsley is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bitwise Asset Management, a cryptocurrency-focused asset management firm. He is recognized for his role in developing regulated crypto investment products, including index funds and spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), to bridge traditional finance with the digital asset market. ^{[1] [2]}

Education

Horsley attended The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Economics. Prior to his university studies, he attended Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton. ^{[3] [4]}

Career

Early Career at Facebook and Instagram

Before entering the cryptocurrency industry, Horsley worked in product management at Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook). His career began at the company in 2014 in a product marketing role focused on expanding the platform's user base. He later transitioned to a product manager position at Instagram, where he worked on the monetization team and contributed to the launch of advertising solutions such as Carousel ads and Mobile App Engagement ads. Subsequently, as a product manager at Facebook, he was involved in developing key monetization features, including Branded Content and mid-roll video ad breaks. He also played a significant role in the launch of "Facebook Save," a feature that grew to over 300 million users. His early career also includes a role in marketing and operations at the educational technology company Lore, Inc. between 2011 and 2013. ^{[3] [5]}

Bitwise Asset Management

In 2017, Horsley co-founded Bitwise Asset Management and has served as its CEO since its inception. As CEO, he leads the firm's executive team and focuses on client relations, product development, and industry stewardship. Under his leadership, Bitwise has become a prominent crypto-specialist asset manager, known for pioneering the first cryptocurrency index fund, the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund. The firm has raised over $80 million in equity capital from investors including Khosla Ventures and Naval Ravikant. ^{[6] [3]}

The company grew significantly under Horsley's direction, with its assets under management (AUM) surpassing $1 billion in 2021. Following the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024, a milestone Horsley and his team worked towards for seven years, Bitwise's AUM exceeded $10 billion. By early 2025, the firm managed over $12 billion in client assets across more than 19 investment products, including ETFs, private funds, and separately managed accounts, serving over 4,000 clients. ^{[1] [7]}

A notable initiative under Horsley's leadership was the decision to publicly disclose the Bitcoin holding addresses for the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB). This move was intended to increase transparency and allow investors to verify the fund's holdings on-chain. In September 2025, Horsley announced the hiring of new portfolio managers to expand the firm's offerings in alpha strategies and income-generating opportunities. The firm also became known for its educational outreach, hosting over 100 events annually to promote the mainstream adoption of crypto assets. ^{[8] [9]}

Public Commentary and Views

Horsley is a frequent commentator on digital asset markets, regulation, and institutional adoption. He utilizes his social media presence and public appearances to share analysis on market trends and the integration of crypto into the broader financial system. ^[10]

On Bitcoin and Market Dynamics

In November 2024, Horsley stated in a CNBC interview that he believed Bitcoin was "greatly undervalued" and had significant room for growth. He characterized 2024 as the year Bitcoin transitioned from an "early chapter" to a "mainstream chapter," arguing that investors now view it as a mature asset class with sufficient regulatory clarity. He identified Bitcoin's deflationary mechanism as a primary driver of investor demand. ^[11]

He has also commented on Bitcoin's unique market behavior, which he describes as "reflexivity." He explained that unlike a stock, which may be seen as overvalued after a significant price increase, a rally in Bitcoin's price is often perceived as evidence of its increasing likelihood of success, making it appear more valuable and likely to appreciate further. Horsley has made several price predictions, suggesting in February 2024 that a $250,000 Bitcoin price could happen "much sooner than most would imagine" due to the increased accessibility provided by spot ETFs. He also noted that while long-term holders might sell around the $100,000 mark, this behavior could change once the price surpasses levels like $130,000-$150,000. ^[10]

On Altcoins and Innovation

Horsley has provided commentary on the competitive landscape between layer-1 blockchains. At the Token2049 conference in Singapore, he predicted that Solana could surpass Ethereum in the market for staking-enabled ETFs. He based this forecast on Solana's technical architecture, which allows for "quick asset unlocking," a feature he identified as critical for the liquidity and structure of such investment products. His statements were seen as a signal of growing institutional interest in Solana as a viable platform for financial products beyond Ethereum. ^{[12] [13]}

In October 2025, Horsley confirmed that Bitwise had filed an S-1 registration statement with the SEC for a spot Aptos (APT) ETF, further indicating the firm's strategy of expanding its product suite to include a diverse range of digital assets. ^[14]

On Regulation and Institutional Adoption

Horsley is an advocate for clear regulatory frameworks for digital assets in the United States. He has pointed to the bipartisan support for legislation like the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21) as evidence of "accelerating momentum" in U.S. crypto policy. Following the U.S. elections in late 2024, he stated that the industry had moved past a period of "regulatory headwinds," creating a more favorable environment for growth and innovation, including a potential increase in crypto-related Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). ^{[8] [11]}

He has frequently highlighted the growing interest from institutional investors. In early 2025, he noted that Bitwise had provided information to a nation-state that was considering an allocation to Bitcoin ETFs from its foreign currency government bond reserves. He has also shared anecdotes of wealth management firms making allocations to Ethereum for their clients using Bitwise products. Horsley has also predicted a future convergence where major technology companies will compete directly with large banks by offering integrated financial services, with cryptocurrency technologies like stablecoins and tokenization serving as the key enablers for this shift. ^{[10] [15]}

Awards and Recognition

Horsley has been recognized for his contributions to the finance and technology industries. He was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. In December 2024, he and Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan were included in CoinDesk's "Most Influential 2024" list for their successful efforts in launching spot crypto ETFs in the United States. ^{[4] [1]}

Interviews

Institutional Adoption in 2025 #01

In an interview broadcast on CNBC Television on June 4, 2025, Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley discussed developments in the cryptocurrency market during that year. Speaking at the Bitcoin 2025 event, Horsley described 2025 as a period of structural change for digital assets, marked by increased regulatory definition and expanding institutional participation.

Horsley stated that recent progress in United States legislation, including bipartisan initiatives such as the Genius Act, had provided greater regulatory clarity for digital asset markets. This, according to him, reduced previous uncertainty and enabled a broader range of financial institutions to engage with crypto-related products under clearer compliance frameworks.

He noted that Bitwise had observed growing participation from institutional investors through exchange-traded funds and similar regulated instruments. Horsley remarked that this participation reflected an evolving perception of digital assets within traditional investment strategies rather than a temporary surge in interest.

During the interview, he compared the ongoing phase of crypto integration with earlier periods of technological adoption, citing the example of smartphones to illustrate gradual incorporation into existing financial systems. He also referenced industry milestones such as Coinbase’s addition to the S&P 500 and JP Morgan’s inclusion of Bitcoin services, identifying them as indicators of institutional engagement.

Horsley concluded that continued regulatory and infrastructural developments could support further integration of cryptocurrencies into mainstream financial markets, alongside projected institutional capital inflows and the expansion of investment products linked to digital assets. ^[17]

Scaling Bitwise Into a $12B Asset Manager #02

In an interview published on Zima Red on April 14, 2025, Hunter Horsley, co-founder and CEO of Bitwise Asset Management, discussed the company’s development and approach to the digital asset management sector. Bitwise, founded in 2016, was established to provide structured and professionally managed access to cryptocurrency investments. Horsley described how Ethereum’s emergence broadened the understanding of crypto assets, transforming the space from a focus on a single digital currency into a wider multi-asset environment.

Drawing from his experience at Facebook and Instagram, Horsley explained that his interest in blockchain technology came from observing how the internet had expanded communication networks but left financial systems fragmented. In his view, decentralization represents a structural attribute of the technology, serving as a mechanism to enhance transparency and reduce reliance on intermediaries.

During the conversation, Horsley detailed Bitwise’s approach, which combines traditional fiduciary investment management with technical expertise in blockchain systems. He described this as a framework necessary for responsibly managing digital assets and understanding the underlying software infrastructure. Horsley also noted the company’s ability to operate through several market downturns, emphasizing internal organization and client confidence as important elements of its continuity.

According to Horsley, the company’s client base has shifted from individuals seeking general exposure to digital assets toward investors interested in more complex strategies, including staking and options-based approaches. He stated that Bitwise’s objective is to operate as a stable and specialized asset manager within the crypto sector, focusing on consistent operations and long-term reliability as the digital asset market continues to evolve. ^[18]