BlackRock Prepares to Launch Bitcoin (BTC) Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) in Europe

This move follows the success of its $58 billion US ETF that tracks the market’s leading cryptocurrency, underscoring BlackRock’s commitment

World’s largest asset manager BlackRock is set to introduce an exchange-traded fund (ETF) directly linked to Bitcoin (BTC) in Europe, a significant development for the BTC market in the region.

The new fund will reportedly be domiciled in Switzerland, and BlackRock could begin marketing the fund as early as this month, according to people familiar with the matter. This will mark a pivotal moment in the firm’s venture into European cryptocurrency products.

While ETFs linked to cryptocurrencies have been available on European exchanges for several years, this will be BlackRock’s first crypto-linked ETF outside of North America.

As a leading issuer of exchange-traded funds, BlackRock boasts over $4.4 trillion in assets under management across various products. The firm has also shown interest in the digital asset class, with CEO Larry Fink recently highlighting Bitcoin’s potential as a hedge against currency debasement during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

Last year, the launch of several US ETFs tied to Bitcoin ignited substantial demand for the asset class, leading to an influx of $116 billion across 12 funds to date, according to Bloomberg data. Notably, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (ticker IBIT) has set industry records, boasting the highest-performing debut of any Exchange-Traded Fund in history.

The cryptocurrency market has experienced a significant rally since the election of US President Donald Trump, with Bitcoin reaching a record high of $109,241 in January. The increasing interest from financial institutions is fueled by Trump’s vocal support for the industry and the promise of forthcoming regulations that could provide clearer guidelines for firms navigating the crypto landscape.

New regulations for cryptocurrencies also went into effect in the European Union (EU) in late December 2024, further encouraging institutional participation.

Despite the competitive landscape, with over 160 cryptocurrency ETPs currently available in Europe tracking Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH), and other tokens, the overall market size of $17.3 billion remains modest compared to the robust US market.

In a recent blog post, BlackRock executives highlighted the growing appeal of Bitcoin ETFs, stating that the combination of gaining exposure to BTC and the benefits of the ETF wrapper have made this product an attractive choice for investors.

At the time of writing, the market’s leading cryptocurrency is trading at $96,770, having lost the key $100,000 level and experiencing a 7% price drop over the weekly time frame.