BlackRock plans to launch a Bitcoin ETP in Europe after the massive success of its $58 billion US-based IBIT.
The firm, managing over $4.4 trillion in ETF assets, could market the fund in Switzerland as soon as this month.
Bitcoin ETFs have attracted $116 billion globally, with BlackRock’s IBIT leading the industry’s strongest ETF launch in history.
, the world’s largest asset manager, is preparing to list a Bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP) in Europe, marking a major expansion beyond North America. The strategic move follows the overwhelming success of its $58 billion US-based Bitcoin ETF, the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT).
Looks like BlackRock is going to launch a Bitcoin ETF in Europe according to my colleagues in Bloomberg news ( @emilyjnicolle) Can’t tell from article but guessing they will follow same playbook they used in Canada? Where the ETF is just a wrapper that holds IBIT (the US ETF) pic.twitter.com/Cqp9tlWsky
Looks like BlackRock is going to launch a Bitcoin ETF in Europe according to my colleagues in Bloomberg news ( ) Can’t tell from article but guessing they will follow same playbook they used in Canada? Where the ETF is just a wrapper that holds IBIT (the US ETF)
to Bloomberg, the fund will likely be based in Switzerland. BlackRock could start marketing it as soon as this month. However, the company has remained tight-lipped about the development, with a spokesperson declining to comment.
The firm, which oversees more than $4.4 trillion in exchange-traded fund (ETF) assets, has made steady inroads into the crypto space. While Europe has seen cryptocurrency-linked ETPs for years, this will be BlackRock’s first such offering outside the US and Canada.
Bitcoin ETFs Fuel Institutional Adoption
The global interest in Bitcoin ETFs has skyrocketed, especially after the debut of multiple Bitcoin ETFs in the US a year ago. These funds have collectively attracted a staggering $116 billion in assets, according to Bloomberg data. IBIT leads the pack, breaking industry records as the best-performing ETF launch in history.
Source: Bloomberg
BlackRock has been aggressively expanding in the crypto ETF space. In January, the firm introduced a Bitcoin ETF on the Cboe Canada exchange, allowing Canadian investors access to its flagship US Bitcoin product. This international push signals BlackRock’s growing confidence in crypto-based investment vehicles.
Meanwhile, US Bitcoin ETFs recorded net inflows exceeding $35 billion in 2024, averaging $144 million in new investments per trading day. The sector continues to grow at an unprecedented pace, with analysts from Steno Research forecasting an additional $48 billion in net inflows for Bitcoin ETFs in 2025.
For Ethereum, Blackrock also wins gold, followed by Fidelity. Fidelity is a closer second here, 44% of Blackrock’s total, compared to 31% in BitcoinWe award @BitwiseInvest the bronze medal1. Blackrock 🥇$3.5bn 2. Fidelity 🥈 $1.5bn 3. Bitwise 🥉$0.4bn pic.twitter.com/S6kfs8HsZe
For Ethereum, Blackrock also wins gold, followed by Fidelity. Fidelity is a closer second here, 44% of Blackrock’s total, compared to 31% in BitcoinWe award the bronze medal1. Blackrock 🥇$3.5bn 2. Fidelity 🥈 $1.5bn 3. Bitwise 🥉$0.4bn
Europe’s Crypto ETP Market Trails the US
Despite the surge in demand, Europe’s cryptocurrency ETP market remains a fraction of its US counterpart. While over 160 crypto ETPs track Bitcoin, Ether, and other digital assets across European exchanges, they collectively hold just $17.3 billion—far below the US market’s size.
Still, industry leaders see growing interest. “Being able to gain Bitcoin exposure via the ETP wrapper has proven to be a compelling combination for investors,” wrote BlackRock executives Samara Cohen and Jay Jacobs in a recent blog post.
The firm’s CEO, Larry Fink, has been one of Wall Street’s most vocal advocates of Bitcoin. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, he emphasized Bitcoin’s potential as a hedge against currency debasement, further solidifying BlackRock’s bullish stance on digital assets.
Bitcoin’s Record Rally and the Trump Effect
Bitcoin’s price has surged amid shifting political and regulatory landscapes. Following the re-election of US President Donald Trump, the cryptocurrency soared to an all-time high of $109,114 in January. has fueled optimism that clearer regulations will encourage more financial institutions to enter the space.
Meanwhile, the European Union rolled out new cryptocurrency regulations in late December, bringing more clarity to firms operating in the region. This regulatory framework could provide a tailwind for BlackRock’s European Bitcoin ETP, making institutional adoption easier.