Blackrock’s spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), the Ishares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), has significantly increased its bitcoin holdings, which have now surpassed 252,011 BTC, representing an approximate notional value of $18 billion. This substantial increase reflects a stronger-than-anticipated influx of retail investor demand, exceeding even the CEO’s initial expectations.
Blackrock CEO Larry Fink: ‘I’m Pleasantly Surprised’
Blackrock, the world’s largest manager, has significantly increased the BTC holdings for its spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), the Ishares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT).
The Ishares Bitcoin Trust currently holds 252,011.40930 BTC, representing an approximate notional value of nearly $18 billion.
Ishares Bitcoin Trust’s BTC holdings as of the last day of trading this week. Source: Ishares’ website.
Blackrock’s CEO Larry Fink said this week that he’s “very bullish on the long-term viability of Bitcoin.” Noting that the Ishares Bitcoin Trust “is the fastest growing ETF in the history of ETFs” and “nothing has gained assets as fast as IBIT in the history of ETFs,” the executive shared:
I’m pleasantly surprised and I’d never have predicted it before we filed it that we were going to see this type of retail demand.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved 11 spot bitcoin ETFs, including IBIT, on Jan. 10. Ten of them began trading the next day. The last one, Hasdex Bitcoin ETF, which converted from a bitcoin futures ETF, began trading this week.
Robert Mitchnick, Blackrock’s head of digital assets, recently emphasized that for the firm’s clients, “bitcoin is overwhelmingly the number one priority.” He further revealed, “And then a little bit Ethereum, and very little everything else.”
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