BlackRock’s $12.5T Bitcoin ETF Filing Shakes Markets — Is Approval Imminent?

Core Insights - BlackRock has filed for a new Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, which could enhance institutional exposure to digital assets [1] - The ETF is designed as a covered-call strategy to generate yield on Bitcoin holdings, and is positioned as a sequel to the iShares Bitcoin Trust [2] - If approved, this product may attract traditional finance investors seeking income from Bitcoin, further solidifying BlackRock's leadership in the crypto ETF market [3] Company Developments - BlackRock's digital asset business is rapidly scaling, with its Bitcoin and Ether ETFs generating over $260 million in annual revenue [3] - The firm is now the largest institutional custodian of Bitcoin and Ethereum, holding more than 756,000 BTC valued at $85.29 billion and 3.8 million ETH worth nearly $16 billion [4] - Total digital asset custody, including smaller crypto holdings, exceeds $101 billion [5] Financial Performance - BlackRock's Ethereum-linked fund saw $512 million in net capital inflows last week, and the firm reported $14.1 billion in digital asset inflows in the second quarter [6] - Crypto ETFs generated $40 million in base fees and securities lending revenue in the same quarter [6] Strategic Initiatives - The firm is exploring tokenization, having launched a tokenized money market fund BUIDL, which has grown to over $2 billion in assets [7]