BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF becomes fastest-growing in history with $30B milestone BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF becomes fastest-growing in history with $30B milestone
BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF is on course to accumulate 500,000 Bitcoin before the end of the year.
2 min read
Updated: Oct. 30, 2024 at 3:52 pm UTC
Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has become the fastest-growing ETF in history, exceeding $30 billion in assets under management.
According to Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, IBIT reached this milestone in just 293 days, setting a new record. This pace surpasses the JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPI) and major Gold ETFs’ growth rates, reaching the $30 billion threshold in 1,272 days and 1,790 days, respectively. CryptoSlate predicted the ETF’s performance would outpace Gold ETFs in January.
Bloomberg data reveals that IBIT’s market valuation crossed $30 billion following substantial inflows and Bitcoin’s price appreciation on Oct. 29. The fund currently holds more than 417,000 Bitcoin, representing about 2% of the total Bitcoin supply.
Bitcoin community member Sani observed that BlackRock’s IBIT could accumulate up to 500,000 Bitcoin by the end of 2024 if its current growth continues. If achieved, this would make IBIT the third-largest Bitcoin holder worldwide, following only Coinbase and Binance.
Growing institutional demand
The success of BlackRock’s ETF aligns with a surge in institutional demand for Bitcoin.
As of Oct. 29, the ETFs cumulatively reported a daily net inflow of $870 million, with BlackRock’s IBIT leading the flow. Other leading funds are also experiencing strong interest, with Fidelity’s FBTC receiving $133.86 million in net inflows, while Bitwise’s BITB attracted $52.49 million.
Meanwhile, VanEck’s HODL, Ark, and 21Shares’ ARKB recorded inflows of $16.52 million and $12.39 million, respectively. The remaining spot Bitcoin ETFs saw no inflows on that day.
Nate Geraci, president of the ETF Store, highlighted that this level of inflow marks the third-highest daily inflow for spot Bitcoin ETFs since their launch in January.
According to research firm CryptoQuant, these impressive numbers reflect a broader trend of institutional interest in Bitcoin.
Ki Young Ju, the firm’s founder and CEO, noted that over the past year, about 278,000 BTC—primarily from retail investors—flowed into US spot ETFs.
During the same period, approximately 670,000 BTC moved into “whale” wallets holding over 1,000 BTC, excluding those on exchanges and mining pools. Ju explained that this trend indicates institutional demand in custodial wallets is roughly double that of retail investors.
This surge highlights the expanding role of institutional investors in the Bitcoin market, with major funds like BlackRock’s IBIT setting the pace.
Mentioned in this article
Bitcoin 
BlackRock 
Fidelity Investments 
Ark Invest 
ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF iShares Bitcoin Trust 
Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust 
Eric Balchunas Author 
Oluwapelumi Adejumo
Oluwapelumi values Bitcoin's potential. He imparts insights on a range of topics like DeFi, hacks, mining and culture, underlining transformative power.
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In this article
Bitcoin, a decentralized currency that defies the sway of central banks or administrators, transacts electronically, circumventing intermediaries via a peer-to-peer network.
BlackRock
BlackRock, synonymous with global asset management, is an American multinational investment management corporation based in New York City.
Fidelity Investments
Fidelity Investments Inc., commonly referred to as Fidelity, is a multinational financial services corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts.
Ark Invest
ARK Investment Management LLC (ARK Invest) holds a precision lens on thematic investing.
The ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) is a digital asset ETF that seeks to track the performance of bitcoin, as measured by the performance of the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate – New York Variant (the “Index”).
The BlackRock Bitcoin ETF, known as the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), is an investment fund that provides regulated exposure to Bitcoin for investors.
The Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust (FBTC) is a spot Bitcoin ETF that offers investors exposure to the price of Bitcoin.
Eric Balchunas is an American author, ETF analyst, and Senior ETF Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.