BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF Among Top Investment Themes for 2025

According to Cointelegraph, BlackRock has identified its spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) as one of its three major investment themes for 2025, alongside Treasury bills and leading U.S. tech stocks. The asset manager highlighted its iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) alongside ETFs tracking Treasury bills and the 'Magnificent 7' tech stocks, which include Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Nvidia, and Tesla. Despite delivering a negative return so far in 2025, IBIT has attracted over $25 billion in net inflows this year, ranking sixth among all ETFs and trailing broad index funds. Nate Geraci, President of NovaDius Wealth Management, commented that BlackRock's emphasis on IBIT indicates the firm's confidence in Bitcoin, despite its 30% decline from its peak in October. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas shared a similar view, noting the potential for increased inflows in a more favorable market year. The $25 billion in inflows for IBIT adds to the approximately $37 billion garnered in 2024, bringing its total inflows since launch to $62.5 billion, according to Farside Investors data. This flow tally significantly surpasses its closest competitor, the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC). In September, BlackRock filed to register a Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, aiming to sell covered call options on Bitcoin futures to generate yield through premiums. Additionally, BlackRock's iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) has also exceeded expectations, attracting over $9.1 billion in inflows this year, raising its total to nearly $12.7 billion. To complement ETHA, BlackRock filed for an iShares Staked Ethereum ETF in November, following a more crypto-friendly stance from the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has relaxed ETF standards. While BlackRock has not engaged in the altcoin ETF trend that other asset managers have pursued, resulting in the launch of products for Litecoin (LTC), Solana (SOL), and XRP (XRP) in recent months, its focus remains on Bitcoin and Ethereum-related offerings. The firm's strategic decisions reflect its cautious approach to expanding its crypto ETF portfolio amid evolving regulatory landscapes.