BlackRock’s Bitcoin Buying Spree Dwarfs ETF Selling in Past 3 Weeks

As a seasoned investor with a knack for spotting trends and a keen eye for market movements, I must admit that BlackRock’s recent foray into the crypto market has piqued my interest significantly. With their staggering $23 billion investment in Bitcoin and Ethereum, they are undeniably positioning themselves as a major player in this burgeoning financial sector.


World’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, has expanded its cryptocurrency portfolio by acquiring 182 Bitcoins and 2,420 Ethereums.

Currently, the company holds approximately 357 thousand Bitcoins and 350 thousand Ethereum. The combined value of these assets exceeds $23 billion, further solidifying the company’s stance in the rapidly growing cryptocurrency market, emphasizing its dedication to this burgeoning financial field.

Bitcoin ETFs Attract Massive $136M Inflow, Led by BlackRock

On September 24, the development of Bitcoin investment took a significant leap as a total of $136 million flowed into Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Notably, BlackRock’s IBIT ETF led with an impressive inflow of $98.9 million, followed closely by Bitwise’s BITB ETF with $17.4 million and Fidelity’s FBTC ETF with $16.8 million. Grayscale’s BTC ETF had a more modest influx of $2.9 million.

The demand for Ethereum Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) was strong, with a total of $62.5 million flowing into them. Notably, the ETHA fund from the company saw the most interest, pulling in an impressive $59.3 million. Meanwhile, VanEck’s ETHV and Invesco’s QETH garnered inflows of $1.9 million and $1.3 million respectively. This trend suggests a growing institutional appetite for both Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Through their recent purchase, the value of the asset manager’s Ethereum holdings has risen to approximately 350,000 ETH, which is equivalent to about $989 million, based on information from blockchain analysis company Arkham Intelligence.

SEC Delays Decision on BlackRock, Bitwise Ethereum ETF Options

As the world’s leading asset manager continues to venture into the cryptocurrency market, it encounters regulatory challenges. In the latter part of September, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) delayed its verdict on whether to allow options trading for Ethereum ETFs proposed by the company and Bitwise. The review periods were extended to November 10 and 11, respectively.

This is weeks after the SEC approved options trading for the company’s IBIT Bitcoin ETF on September 20. A move that shows just how careful the SEC is in not wanting to rush into something that may hurt the general financial markets later on with Ethereum ETFs.

As an analyst, I find that the deliberate strategy adopted by the government reflects a comparable level of prudence when it comes to integrating digital assets more extensively within established frameworks.

Crypto Journey: From Cautious Observer to Active Investor

In the year 2018, this asset manager initially approached the cryptocurrency realm with a degree of prudence, assembling a team primarily for the purpose of evaluating blockchain technology and digital assets.

By leaping ahead into 2020, the company transitioned from an observer to a proactive investor. This transformation occurred when it submitted paperwork to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), aiming to incorporate Bitcoin futures in two of its investment funds.

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2024-09-27 17:38