BlackRock’s IBIT Surpasses $50B in Record Time as BTC Breaks 100K

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has reached a milestone of $50 billion in assets under management, achieving this feat in just 228 days—over five times faster than any other ETF in history.

To put this into perspective, the previous record-holder, BlackRock’s iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA), took 1,329 days to reach the same milestone, according to Eric Balchunas, a senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg.

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The rapid growth of IBIT coincides with a historic year for Bitcoin (BTC), which broke the $100,000 mark for the first time on Wednesday, closing at $103,000 after rising more than 140% in 2024.

IBIT’s performance highlights the growing demand for Bitcoin as an institutional-grade investment and underscores the role of spot Bitcoin ETFs in accelerating adoption. Spot Bitcoin ETFs, such as IBIT, have played a crucial role in attracting traditional investors to the crypto market.

Approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in January, these funds provide direct exposure to Bitcoin prices without the complexities of custody or trading on crypto exchanges.

The approval ended years of regulatory resistance and has sparked billions in inflows from investors who were previously hesitant to enter the space.

As of market close on Wednesday, BlackRock’s IBIT saw $570.7 million in inflows, according to data from Farside Investors.

“The ability of BTC to make new ATHs every week, despite profit-taking, is due to the fresh demand coming into the market from new investors,” Bitfinex analysts told Decrypt . “Any selling has been absorbed and outpaced by strong ETF inflows and subsequent buying from institutions.”

Adding further momentum to IBIT’s performance is the anticipated administration of President-elect Donald Trump, whose return to the White House has been marked by bold pro-crypto promises.

Trump has vowed to support the domestic crypto industry, including plans to create a U.S. Bitcoin reserve and protect American crypto mining operations.

With anti-crypto SEC chair Gary Gensler stepping down and the nomination of Paul Atkins, a former SEC commissioner known for advocating market-friendly policies, analysts expect a shift toward a more collaborative regulatory framework for the crypto market.

Rather than being seen as speculative assets, Bitcoin and crypto-backed ETFs like IBIT are increasingly recognized as tools for diversification and stability, especially as regulatory challenges are expected to ease.