@BlackRock's digital asset funds returned to net inflows in the third quarter, reversing the outflows seen earlier in 2026. The asset manager took in $7.9 billion for its Bitcoin ($BTC) and Ether ($ETH) ETFs, after about $2.2 billion left in the first half of the year.
Rising prices did most of the work. Market gains added another $22.9 billion, lifting digital asset assets under management (AUM) 63% to $79.6 billion from $48.8 billion at the end of June, according to CoinDesk.
Crypto rebound still short of the 2025 peak
Despite the quarterly jump, BlackRock's crypto holdings remain 23% below year-ago levels. CoinDesk reported that investors added $6.3 billion over the past 12 months, but the decline in asset values outweighed those contributions. The firm's digital asset AUM peaked at around $104 billion in September 2025.
The category is driven mainly by two products: the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), Crypto Briefing reported. The same report said the $7.9 billion was the strongest quarterly inflow figure since the third quarter of 2025, and that Bitcoin rose more than 42% over the quarter.
Firm-wide inflows reach $205 billion
Across the group, BlackRock drew $205 billion in net inflows in the third quarter, with total AUM reaching $15.5 trillion, according to the company's third-quarter 2026 earnings release. The release put iShares ETF net inflows at $135 billion and active net inflows at $66 billion. Revenue rose 19% year over year.
Digital assets remain a small part of the overall business. They contributed about $8 billion of the $135 billion in ETF flows, according to Crypto Briefing. Still, the third-quarter figures show institutional demand for regulated Bitcoin and Ether exposure returning as crypto prices recovered from the first-half slump.
Sources:
CoinDesk: BlackRock's crypto ETF assets surge 63% but remain far below 2025 peak
BlackRock: Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Release
Crypto Briefing: BlackRock's crypto ETF assets jump 63% to roughly $80 billion in Q3
