By Walter Grand in Economy —

BlackRock Invests Over $4 Million in Its Own Bitcoin ETF

BlackRock Invests Over $4 Million in Its Own Bitcoin ETF
Photo by Uran Wang / Unsplash

In a significant move within the cryptocurrency investment space, BlackRock has recently made a substantial investment in its own spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). According to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), two of BlackRock's funds, the BlackRock Strategic Income Opportunities Portfolio Institutional Shares (BSIIX) and the BlackRock Strategic Global Bond Fund (MAWIX), have collectively invested over $4 million in the firm's Bitcoin ETF.

The documents submitted to the SEC reveal that BSIIX purchased 88,000 shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), valued at approximately $3.58 million. Meanwhile, MAWIX acquired 12,000 shares worth $485,640. These investments occurred in the first quarter of 2024, demonstrating BlackRock's growing commitment to the cryptocurrency sector.

This strategic investment aligns with a trend observed among ETF providers, where funds increasingly support their own products through direct investments. This practice was previously noted in January 2024 when Ark Invest sold a significant portion of its holdings in the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) and reinvested the capital into its own spot Bitcoin ETF.

Nate Geraci, President of the consulting firm The ETF Store, commented that this development was expected. He explained that ETF providers often invest in their own products as a way to bolster them in the competitive market.

The move by BlackRock is indicative of the broader interest in cryptocurrency investments among major institutional investors. Notably, in the first quarter of 2024, several large institutional investors have declared investments in this sector. Among them, hedge fund Bracebridge Capital has emerged as the largest shareholder of IBIT.

BlackRock's investment in its own Bitcoin ETF marks a pivotal development in the landscape of institutional investments in cryptocurrencies, reflecting a growing acceptance and normalization of digital assets within the traditional financial ecosystem.