BlackRock Boosts Bitcoin and Ethereum Exposure by $22 Billion
According to Coinglass, the firm channeled approximately US$1.24 billion into Bitcoin and Ethereum via its spot ETFs.
Quick overview
- BlackRock has significantly increased its exposure to cryptocurrencies, adding over US$22 billion in the past year.
- Bitcoin remains the primary asset in BlackRock's portfolio, with holdings growing from approximately 552,550 BTC to 770,380 BTC.
- Ethereum saw the highest percentage growth, with holdings nearly tripling from 1.07 million ETH to 3.48 million ETH.
- BlackRock's aggressive investment strategy continues into 2026, with substantial inflows into Bitcoin and Ethereum via spot ETFs.
The world’s largest investment manager shows no signs of easing its digital asset strategy.
Last year, it increased its exposure to cryptocurrencies by more than US$20 billion, and it has remained highly active in the market at the start of 2026.
Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock—the world’s largest asset manager—not only continues to back cryptocurrencies but is steadily increasing that bet. This is evident in Finbold’s latest 2025 crypto market report, which shows that the firm expanded its exposure to digital assets by roughly US$22 billion over the past year.
According to Finbold, the value of BlackRock’s Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) holdings rose from US$54.83 billion to US$77.35 billion over the last twelve months. That represents an increase of US$22.52 billion, or an annual gain of 41.07%, based on blockchain analytics data from Arkham.
Bitcoin as the backbone of the portfolio
An analysis of the world’s largest asset manager’s portfolio shows that Bitcoin remained the primary driver of BlackRock’s crypto exposure. During the period reviewed, BTC holdings grew from approximately 552,550 BTC to 770,380 BTC—an increase of 217,830 BTC.
In dollar terms, exposure to Bitcoin rose from US$51.16 billion to US$67.14 billion, an increase of US$15.98 billion, equivalent to year-over-year growth of 31.24%.
Ethereum posts the strongest relative growth
Ethereum, meanwhile, recorded the highest percentage growth. BlackRock’s ETH holdings expanded from roughly 1.07 million ETH to 3.48 million ETH, adding approximately 2.41 million ETH throughout 2025.
The value of these positions climbed from US$3.59 billion to US$10.21 billion—an increase of US$6.62 billion—meaning the exposure nearly tripled over the year (+184.40%).
Finbold analysts note that these figures highlight not only sustained institutional demand for crypto assets, but also BlackRock’s tendency to deploy capital steadily during consolidation phases rather than chasing short-term price rallies.
ETFs, flows, and a strong start to 2026
The report also underscores the critical role of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), particularly during the first quarter of 2025, despite heightened price volatility. By the end of March, BlackRock held approximately 575,860 BTC and 1.17 million ETH, with a combined portfolio valued at US$49.85 billion.
According to Finbold, the temporary decline in valuation reflected broader market volatility rather than a reduction in exposure, as accumulation continued beneath the surface. This momentum accelerated in the second quarter: by the end of June, BlackRock’s crypto portfolio had grown by US$23.91 billion, rising from US$54.77 billion to US$78.67 billion.
The largest jump occurred in the third quarter. Between July and September, BlackRock’s crypto holdings surged to US$102.09 billion—an increase of 28% in just three months. While Bitcoin added nearly US$11 billion, Ethereum stood out, posting gains of more than 260%, driven by growing institutional interest in Ethereum-linked yields, tokenization, and settlement use cases.
BlackRock carried this aggressive strategy into early 2026. According to Coinglass, the firm channeled approximately US$1.24 billion into Bitcoin and Ethereum via its spot ETFs. The iShares Bitcoin Trust alone attracted US$888.6 million in the first days of the year, with a single-day peak inflow of US$372.5 million on January 5.
On the Ethereum side, BlackRock’s spot ETF captured US$348.9 million, including a record daily purchase of US$198.8 million on January 6—underscoring a pattern of sustained accumulation.
These purchases helped support the crypto market at the start of 2026, with Bitcoin attempting to consolidate above US$90,000 and Ethereum holding above US$3,000. At the same time, the spot ETF market continues to gain traction: Morgan Stanley has filed an application to launch a spot Bitcoin ETF in the United States, offering yet another signal of expanding institutional interest in digital assets.
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