BlackRock Bitcoin & Ether ETFs Outpace Grayscale ETF AUM But There’s A Catch

As a seasoned crypto investor with a decade-long journey navigating the digital asset landscape, I find the recent shift in the balance of power between BlackRock and Grayscale in terms of AUM quite intriguing. I remember when Grayscale was the undisputed leader, and now we see BlackRock taking the lead. It’s a testament to how quickly this space evolves, and it’s exciting to be part of such a dynamic market.


For the first time, BlackRock’s Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs (IBIT and ETHA) have surpassed Grayscale’s ETF offerings in total assets managed. This achievement is due to strong investments into IBIT and ETHA since they were launched. On the other hand, Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) and Ethereum Trust (ETHE) have seen significant outflows, even though BlackRock’s mini ETFs are experiencing inflows.

BlackRock Vs. Grayscale ETF AUM Details

As a researcher delving into the world of digital assets, I’ve recently uncovered an interesting finding: The combined value of BlackRock’s ETFs, specifically IBIT and ETHA, now stands at an impressive $21.22 billion. On the other hand, Grayscale’s ETFs, comprising GBTC, BTC Mini, ETHE, and ETH Mini, collectively hold a similar value of approximately $21.20 billion. Notably, this is the first instance where BlackRock’s ETF assets under management (AUM) surpass that of Grayscale ETFs. This shift underscores the growing influence of traditional financial institutions in the digital asset sector.

Additionally, this places the IBIT issuer at the forefront as the world’s top provider of crypto ETFs. Notably, the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF tops the charts with an Assets Under Management (AUM) of $20.54 billion, managing 348,609 Bitcoins. On the other hand, BlackRock’s Ethereum ETF, ETHA, manages an AUM of $847 million, holding 318,180 Ethereums.

Even after years in the crypto investment field, Grayscale continues to be a dominant player. Its primary offering, Grayscale’s GBTC, manages an impressive $13.17 billion in assets under management (AUM). Furthermore, the company’s Ethereum Trust (ETHE) holds $4.82 billion and $924 million in its ETH Mini ETF.

Nevertheless, it’s important to understand that the comparison between the crypto holdings of both ETF issuers, Arkham Intelligence points out, is complex. While BlackRock may not have surpassed Grayscale in total balance, it’s crucial to consider Grayscale’s Digital Large Cap Fund (GDLC), which manages approximately $460 million in assets under management (AUM). A significant portion, 93.29%, of this fund is invested in Bitcoin and Ethereum, significantly increasing the overall crypto holdings.

Latest Bitcoin & Ethereum ETF Flows

On Thursday, August 15th, the crypto ETF market displayed conflicting tendencies between Bitcoin and Ethereum. While Bitcoin ETFs experienced an influx of investments, indicating sustained investor trust, Ethereum ETFs reported substantial withdrawals, hinting at a cautious stance towards its immediate future.

In a week’s time, Bitcoin ETFs accumulated approximately $11.1 million collectively. Fidelity was the top contributor, pouring in $16.2 million, and Bitwise followed closely behind with an additional $6.2 million. The BTC Mini ETF by Grayscale also added a substantial amount, totaling $13.7 million. Despite this generally optimistic trend, GBTC experienced outflows amounting to $25 million. Interestingly, BlackRock’s IBIT remained steady with no recorded inflows or outflows during the same period.

Alternatively, while the market for the Ether Exchange-Traded Fund saw a sharp difference, it experienced a total net withdrawal of $39.2 million. The largest movement occurred with the Grayscale ETF (ETHE), which recorded an outflow of $42.5 million. This substantial withdrawal suggests that investors are becoming increasingly hesitant about Ethereum’s near-term prospects.

In contrast to the general downward trend, Fidelity’s Ethereum ETF (FETH) experienced an inflow of approximately $2.54 million. However, this increase didn’t offset the overall decrease, as the total assets under management for spot Ethereum ETFs have now dropped to $7.16 billion – a substantial decline from their initial high of over $10 billion.

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2024-08-16 16:21