BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF Smashes Records: $80B AUM Faster Than Any Fund in History

Wall Street's crypto embrace hits hyperdrive as BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF outpaces every fund launch ever. The $80 billion milestone? Obliterated in record time—while traditional asset managers scramble to pretend they 'saw it coming.'

How fast? Like 'institutional FOMO meets rocket fuel' fast. The numbers don't lie: this ETF's ascent makes the dot-com bubble look like slow-motion.

Meanwhile, gold bugs and bond traders are suddenly very interested in 'blockchain education.' Funny how an eight-figure inflow gets people curious.

One hedge fund VP (who definitely didn't short BTC last year) puts it best: 'Turns out, pensions want exposure to the best-performing asset of the decade. Who knew?'

IBIT outpaces traditional ETFs and gold

Though the meteoric trajectory of IBIT has no precedence in the crypto space, it has also outperformed the most successful traditional ETFs.

IEFA required 2,034 days to achieve the same level while IEMG required 2,089 days. In contrast, the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF achieved this in just over a year. However, and in complete contrast, IBIT pulled off the task within a little over a year.

According to Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas, the growth was “historic,” noting that IBIT hit the AUM milestone five times faster than any other fund. He also pointed out that the combined total AUM for all US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs has topped over $140 billion for the first time.

The BlackRock Bitcoin ETF has also beaten Gold to the accumulation finish line. It has taken in $70 billion AUM five times faster than gold-backed EFTs captured that level. This is a sign that more and more people are treating Bitcoin not as a risky bet, but are comparing it to something like traditional commodities in being a store of value.

This change is crucial, as international financial uncertainty encourages investors to find alternative methods to protect themselves against inflation and fiat currency fluctuation. Bitcoin, the “digital gold,” is being looked at in some quarters as a rival to physical gold in institutional portfolios.

IBIT accelerates toward matching Satoshi’s Bitcoin holdings

Another major milestone has been reached: BlackRock’s IBIT is home to more than 700k BTC. This puts the firm on course to top the estimated holdings of Bitcoin’s enigmatic creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, who is thought to have as much as 1 million BTC. If the current pace of accumulation continues, BlackRock WOULD exceed that amount by 2026.

Today, IBIT is the 21st largest ETF in the world — a stunning accomplishment for an upstart newcomer. Its success has reset the baseline for how swiftly a crypto-related financial product can earn trust and traction on Wall Street.

This shift mirrors a fundamental change in the relationship between digital assets and traditional financial systems. Institutional players hesitated to get involved with crypto for years, citing volatility, lack of regulation, and security issues. However, the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs, particularly one that Forbes reported was backed by BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, opens a new chapter.

With ongoing interest from pension funds, family offices, and big wealth managers, the fund will likely experience even bigger inflows as Bitcoin becomes more mainstream in finance.

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