BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF Shatters Records: 1 Million Investors, 75% New to Firm
Unprecedented Adoption for IBIT
BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has attracted 1 million investors since its January launch, with 75% being first-time BlackRock clients, revealed Jessica Tan, Head of Americas for Global Product Solutions. The ETF's staggering growth includes:
$87 billion in assets – largest ETF launch in BlackRock’s history
$57.6 billion net inflows (per SoSoValue)
70% dominance of spot Bitcoin ETF trading volume
Why This Matters
Client Acquisition Goldmine
Over 250,000 new investors went on to purchase other iShares ETFs
Demonstrates crypto’s power to expand traditional finance’s customer base
Market Structure Shift
IBIT now holds ~3% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply
Outpaces ETHA (Ether ETF) which crossed $10B AUM at half IBIT’s speed
Institutional Validation
"This isn’t speculation—it’s asset allocation," notes Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas
Pension funds and RIAs drive ~40% of inflows
The Bigger Picture
BlackRock’s success signals:
✅ Mainstream crypto acceptance as portfolio staples
✅ ETF wars advantage over competitors like Fidelity/Grayscale
✅ Potential ripple effect for future crypto-linked products
"IBIT has done more to normalize Bitcoin in 7 months than decades of advocacy."
— Senior BlackRock strategist (anonymous)
Next Milestone Watch:
$100B AUM expected by October
Options trading approval pending SEC decision
