BlackRock launches Bitcoin ETP in Europe with 0.15% fee

Cryptocurrencies

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BlackRock has expanded its crypto offerings into Europe with the iShares Bitcoin ETP, now trading on Xetra, Euronext Amsterdam, and Euronext Paris.

The product, launched on March 25, follows the success of its U.S.-based Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) ETF, which holds $50.7 billion in assets and 2.73% of Bitcoin’s total supply.

The ETP trades under tickers IB1T (Xetra/Paris) and BTCN (Amsterdam), with a temporary fee waiver reducing its expense ratio to 0.15% until late 2025.

This undercuts competitors like CoinSharesBitcoin ETP, which charges 0.25%.

“BlackRock’s aggressive fee structure was designed to keep competitors out of the market,” adding that such competition “is good for investors and ultimately good for digital currencies,” Algoz’s Stephen Wundke noted.  

BlackRock’s move aligns with the EU’s MiCA regulatory framework, which Ajay Dhingra of Unizen called a “tipping point” for institutional adoption.

Dhingra highlighted the EU’s “regulatory stability” compared to the U.S., where policy shifts under Trump and Biden have created uncertainty.

“Quality investment products through regulated asset managers have been more available throughout Europe than in the U.S., and Bitcoin is also more easily purchased,” Wundke stated, tempering expectations despite the ETP’s launch reflecting growing institutional interest.

“Just don’t expect $60 billion of purchases in the first quarter,” he added.  

BlackRock’s European expansion comes as the firm manages $11.55 trillion in assets globally, including its Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF ($3.46 billion AUM).

The ETP’s fee waiver and regulatory clarity position it to attract traditional investors seeking exposure to Bitcoin as “digital gold.”

At the time of reporting, the Bitcoin (BTC) price was $87,826.02.