BlackRock has identified its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) as one of the three principal investment themes for 2025, placing it alongside Treasury bills and leading technology stocks. This announcement comes even as the price of Bitcoin has experienced a decline of over 4% year-to-date, marking its first annual downturn in three years.
Despite this price drop, the IBIT ETF has demonstrated robust investor interest, attracting more than $25 billion in net inflows during 2025 alone. This impressive figure positions IBIT as the sixth-largest ETF by inflows this year, highlighting a strong appetite for Bitcoin investment among institutional players.
The performance of the IBIT ETF is noteworthy, particularly given that it has accrued a total of $62.5 billion in inflows since its inception, significantly outpacing its nearest competitor, the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund, by a factor of more than five.
Industry analysts, including Nate Geraci, president of the ETF Store, have remarked on the strategic move by BlackRock. Traditionally, asset managers highlight their best-performing products, yet BlackRock”s focus on IBIT signals a long-term commitment to Bitcoin”s role within diversified portfolios, even amidst short-term volatility.
Throughout 2025, IBIT”s inflows add to its previous success, having attracted approximately $37 billion in 2024. Despite being the only ETF on the 2025 Flow Leaderboard to post negative returns, it has still managed to outperform other funds, including those focused on gold.
Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas noted that the $25 billion inflow during a challenging year for Bitcoin demonstrates substantial potential for future growth. Should Bitcoin”s price recover, the potential for even greater inflows into IBIT could be realized.
In addition to its Bitcoin offerings, BlackRock”s product line is expanding. The firm has filed for a Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, which aims to generate yield by selling covered call options on Bitcoin futures. Meanwhile, its Ethereum ETF (ETHA) has also seen remarkable success, drawing in over $9.1 billion in inflows during 2025, with total inflows nearing $12.7 billion.
Furthermore, BlackRock has filed for an iShares Staked Ethereum ETF, responding to a more accommodating regulatory environment from the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding ETF standards. This shift has opened avenues for asset managers to innovate and explore new product ideas, although BlackRock has not yet ventured into altcoin ETF launches.
In summary, BlackRock”s positioning of the IBIT Bitcoin ETF as a key investment theme, despite current market challenges, illustrates the firm”s confidence in Bitcoin”s long-term viability and its place in the evolving landscape of investment opportunities.
