BlackRock Elevates Bitcoin ETF to Core Investment Theme Alongside T-Bills and Big Tech

Bitcoin ETF Earns Prominent Place on BlackRock’s 2025 Outlook

BlackRock has positioned its spot Bitcoin ETF, iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), as one of its three primary investment themes for 2025, placing it alongside U.S. Treasury bills and America’s largest technology stocks as markets look ahead to 2026.

The move was highlighted on BlackRock’s homepage and underscores the asset manager’s growing conviction in Bitcoin’s role within diversified portfolios—despite recent price weakness across the crypto market.

IBIT Stands With T-Bills and the ‘Magnificent Seven’

BlackRock grouped IBIT with:

• Its ETF tracking short-term Treasury bills, and

• An ETF tied to the “Magnificent Seven” tech giants: Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Nvidia, and Tesla

The placement signals that Bitcoin exposure is no longer viewed as a fringe allocation but as a strategic theme comparable to core income and growth assets.

Strong Inflows Persist Despite Negative Returns

IBIT has attracted more than $25 billion in net inflows in 2025, ranking sixth among all ETFs this year. This is notable given that the fund has delivered a negative return so far in 2025, trailing broad market index funds.

According to Farside Investors, IBIT also brought in approximately $37 billion in 2024, lifting its total inflows since launch to $62.5 billion.

That figure is more than five times larger than its closest competitor, the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC).

BlackRock Signals Confidence Despite Bitcoin’s Pullback

Nate Geraci, president of NovaDius Wealth Management, said BlackRock’s decision to highlight IBIT suggests the firm remains unfazed by Bitcoin’s volatility.

Bitcoin is currently trading near $88,323, roughly 30% below its October peak, yet BlackRock continues to promote the ETF as a core theme rather than a speculative trade.

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas echoed that view, emphasizing the significance of IBIT’s inflows during a down year.

“If the ETF can do $25 billion in a bad year, imagine the flow potential in a good year,” Balchunas said.

Source

BlackRock Expands Bitcoin ETF Strategy

In September, BlackRock filed to register a Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, designed to sell covered call options on Bitcoin futures. The strategy aims to generate yield by collecting option premiums, offering an alternative risk profile for income-focused investors.

Ethereum ETFs Also Exceed Expectations

BlackRock’s crypto ambitions extend beyond Bitcoin. Its iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) has drawn more than $9.1 billion in inflows in 2025, bringing its total inflows to nearly $12.7 billion.

In November, BlackRock also filed to register an iShares Staked Ethereum ETF, marking a shift from its earlier decision not to include staking in ETHA.

A more crypto-friendly U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has recently relaxed ETF standards, giving asset managers greater flexibility to explore staking and yield-generating structures.

BlackRock Avoids the Altcoin ETF Rush

Notably, BlackRock has avoided the growing wave of altcoin ETFs, even as competitors roll out products tied to assets such as:

• Litecoin (LTC)

• Solana (SOL)

• XRP (XRP)

The firm’s focus remains firmly on Bitcoin and Ethereum, reinforcing its preference for the most liquid and institutionally established digital assets.

Conclusion: Bitcoin Joins the Institutional Core

By elevating IBIT to the same status as Treasury bills and mega-cap tech stocks, BlackRock is sending a clear message: Bitcoin exposure is becoming a core institutional theme, not a short-term trade.

Despite price volatility, sustained inflows and continued product expansion suggest that BlackRock views Bitcoin as a long-term allocation with significant upside as market conditions improve.

See all our insights: Bitcoin World News