BlackRock Bitcoin ETF Breaks $70B AUM, Leading Institutional Adoption as Meme Coin ETFs Await SEC Review

Published: 2025-06-10 05:31:01 |

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has set a historic record by reaching $70 billion in assets under management (AUM) just 341 days after its January 2024 launch, surpassing the previous fastest-growing ETF, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD). IBIT now controls more than double the AUM of its nearest US spot Bitcoin ETF competitor, managing $71.9 billion and holding 661,457 BTC, making BlackRock the largest institutional Bitcoin holder ahead of Binance and MicroStrategy. This meteoric growth highlights surging institutional and retail demand for regulated crypto products, firmly establishing Bitcoin ETFs and boosting confidence in Bitcoin as an investable asset class. ETF analyst Eric Balchunas predicts IBIT could soon overtake Satoshi Nakamoto’s estimated BTC holdings. The ongoing institutional adoption is viewed as a structural shift in the market, potentially stabilizing BTC prices and paving the way for new products. Industry analysts, including Eric Balchunas, are now forecasting high odds of approval for actively managed meme coin ETFs as early as 2026. These ETFs would focus on high-volatility tokens such as Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and PEPE, reflecting rapid growth in the meme coin sector, which recently crossed $60 billion in capitalization. However, the U.S. SEC approval process and securities classification issues remain substantial hurdles. The launch of meme coin ETFs could intensify market volatility and speculation, but active management may help capture upside while managing risks. Overall, IBIT’s success is seen as a watershed moment for crypto ETFs, accelerating adoption and asset flows, and signaling further innovation in regulated crypto investment vehicles.

Bullish

The news that BlackRock’s IBIT has quickly surpassed $70 billion in AUM and now dominates the U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF market is strongly bullish for Bitcoin and the broader crypto sector. This unprecedented growth demonstrates surging institutional and retail demand for regulated crypto investment products, providing significant validation for Bitcoin as a mainstream asset. The success of IBIT also increases market confidence, likely encouraging further innovation and additional ETFs, including those for Ethereum and altcoins. While upcoming meme coin ETFs could introduce volatility, their potential approval signals wider acceptance for diverse crypto assets. Overall, increasing institutional adoption, growing product diversity, and sustained capital inflow are all positive signals for crypto traders and should contribute to price support and improved market stability in both the short and long term.