What is BlackRock’s IBIT spot bitcoin ETF?

• BlackRock's IBIT is a spot bitcoin ETF that allows users to gain exposure to bitcoin's price movements without owning the cryptocurrency itself.

• A spot bitcoin ETF holds actual bitcoin as its underlying asset, providing a regulated way for users to participate in bitcoin's price movements.

• BlackRock, the issuer of IBIT, is a global financial management corporation.

A spot bitcoin ETF is a type of financial product that holds actual bitcoin as its underlying asset. This financial product allows users to gain exposure to bitcoin's price movements without the need to acquire and store the cryptocurrency themselves. This can be particularly beneficial for those who find the process of acquiring and storing bitcoin complex or risky.

ETFs are traded on traditional stock exchanges, which typically offer higher liquidity than digital asset platforms. This means that users can trade shares of the ETF at prevailing market prices without significantly impacting the market. Spot bitcoin ETFs are subject to regulatory oversight, providing users with a sense of protection that may not be present when dealing with unregulated digital asset platforms.

BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) is a spot bitcoin ETF that was approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 11, 2024. Users can participate in IBIT through existing brokerage accounts on the NASDAQ stock exchange.

IBIT aims to provide a direct avenue for diverse users, ranging from asset managers to financial advisers, to engage with bitcoin. It is designed to mitigate obstacles and operational complexities associated with participating in bitcoin. The ETF uses custodian services offered by a digital asset platform and follows bitcoin prices using a reference rate that gathers information from reliable digital asset platforms around the world.

BlackRock is a global financial management corporation based in the United States. It is one of the largest asset management firms in the world. BlackRock offers a wide range of financial products and services, including mutual funds, ETFs, retirement planning, and risk management.

The iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) from BlackRock achieved a milestone by surpassing $1 billion in assets under management (AUM) within its first week of trading. The fund's holdings consist primarily of Bitcoin, with 99% of its portfolio allocated to the cryptocurrency. This achievement reflects strong user demand and is a testament to the growing interest in regulated and transparent financial vehicles for gaining exposure to bitcoin.