BlackRock boosts Bitcoin ETF holdings by 25%

BlackRock’s in-house portfolio has increased its holdings in the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) by 25 percent, reflecting the asset manager’s growing commitment to Bitcoin as part of a diversification strategy.

As of March 31, 2025, BlackRock’s Strategic Income Opportunities Portfolio held 2,123,592 shares of IBIT, valued at approximately $99.4 million, according to US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings.

This marks a significant increase from the 1,691,143 shares held at the end of 2024.

IBIT is one of 11 spot Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) approved by the SEC in January 2024 and has emerged as the largest fund in its category with over $72 billion in net assets, based on Bitbo data.

The second-largest US Bitcoin ETF, Fidelity’s Wise Origin Fund (FBTC), trails IBIT by about $50 billion in net assets.

BlackRock’s Strategic Income Opportunities Portfolio primarily focuses on bonds but seeks diversified exposure to other markets to enhance total returns while preserving capital, as stated in the fund’s prospectus.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen record inflows since their debut, with 2025 continuing this trend.

May 2025 is on track to be a record month for spot ETFs, with more than $1.5 billion in net inflows over just two days.

BlackRock’s IBIT has driven much of this growth, posting consistent inflows since early April, including multiple days with net purchases exceeding $500 million.

Net inflows indicate rising demand from asset managers buying Bitcoin ETF shares to meet investor interest.

Using gold ETFs as a benchmark, Bitwise Asset Management projects Bitcoin fund inflows could reach $120 billion in 2025 and more than double to $300 billion by 2026.

Despite the growth, analysts note that wealth management platforms and wirehouses of major institutions remain largely untapped markets for Bitcoin ETFs.

At the time of reporting, the Bitcoin (BTC) price was $108,782.