BlackRock brings bitcoin etf to UK investors as FCA lifts ban

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, is set to launch its inaugural bitcoin exchange traded product in Britain this Monday. This move will enable sophisticated retail investors in the UK to gain exposure to bitcoin’s performance without the complexities of acquiring the cryptocurrency directly. For the first time, investors will be able to purchase units representing small fractions of a bitcoin, with entry into the US exchange traded fund commencing at approximately 11 US dollars per unit.

The new offering arrives on the heels of the Financial Conduct Authority’s recent decision to lift its ban on select bitcoin based exchange traded products. Such products have already debuted elsewhere in Europe, positioning Britain to catch up with continental peers. BlackRock’s American iShares crypto exchange traded fund has been available for two years, accumulating nearly 100 billion dollars in assets under management since launching and attracting significant investor interest.

Bitcoin has experienced a significant price increase over the past 12 months, fuelled in part by President Trump’s return to the White House and his favourable stance on cryptocurrencies. The digital currency now trades at around 108000 dollars, more than doubling in value within a year. There is a hard cap on the supply of bitcoin, with only 21 million ever to exist and nearly 95 percent already circulating. Individual coins are divisible into one hundred million pieces, allowing millions of UK investors to own modest bitcoin allocations.

Official figures from the Financial Conduct Authority suggest around seven million UK residents have already invested in cryptocurrencies. BlackRock anticipates this number will rise to four million bitcoin investors by the end of the year, supported by the company’s research predicting a 21 percent increase in first time UK crypto investors during the next twelve months. The UK ranks third in Europe for crypto investment growth, signalling robust appetite among both seasoned and novice participants.

Efforts are under way to bring greater order to the fast evolving UK cryptocurrency landscape. The government has mapped plans to introduce a regulatory regime for crypto assets, enforced by the City regulator, with detailed rules for digital assets now under discussion. This regulatory clarity may further bolster confidence in digital investment products and drive broader adoption among the British public.

BlackRock’s quarterly figures highlight strong demand for digital asset products, with net inflows of 17 billion dollars in the last quarter alone. Across all business lines, the asset manager surpassed 13 trillion dollars in assets under management for the first time, underscoring the scale and momentum driving BlackRock’s global leadership in finance and innovation.