BlackRock has launched the iShares Bitcoin ETP, giving European investors direct exposure to bitcoin through a fully physically backed exchange traded product ( ETP).
BlackRock highlighted that the ETP allows investors to access bitcoin without the technical and custodial complexities of holding the cryptocurrency themselves. The product is 100% backed by bitcoin held via Coinbase, with daily transfers into segregated cold storage.
To encourage early adoption, BlackRock is offering a reduced total expense ratio (TER) of 15bps until the end of 2025, down from the standard 25bps, thanks to a temporary fee waiver.
A recent BlackRock and Focal Data survey found that 75% of wealth professionals expect to invest in bitcoin ETPs within two years, highlighting appetite for regulated, familiar investment structures.
The ETP builds on BlackRock’s long term integration with Coinbase, leveraging advanced custody and security protocols. Coinbase employs multiparty computation, physical safeguards and cold storage wallets to protect private keys and assets.
According to the BlackRock Investment Institute, for investors with suitable governance and the ability to tolerate the large short-term drawdowns that can be associated with bitcoin, an allocation of up to 1-2% to bitcoin is a reasonable range in multi-asset portfolios.
With more than $4.2 trillion in AUM and over 1,500 ETFs globally, BlackRock’s iShares continues to push the frontier of digital and traditional finance integration.
“With 25 million cryptocurrency investors across Europe, we believe ETPs have an important role to play to build a bridge between crypto and traditional finance through their efficiency and convenience,” Jane Sloan, Emea head of global product solutions at BlackRock. “Alongside ease of access, the iShares Bitcoin ETP is built to provide institutional grade security for bitcoin holdings for investors in Europe.”
Listed on European exchanges, the iShares Bitcoin ETP can be bought and sold via traditional trading accounts.
