TL;DR:
- BlackRock accumulates over $1.1 billion in AUM with its European ETP IB1T, launched in March 2025, holding 14,200 BTC in its portfolio.
- The product trades on Euronext Paris, Euronext Amsterdam and Xetra, though regulatory uncertainty continues to limit its expansion across the continent.
- The U.S. IBIT fund surpasses $60 billion in AUM and holds nearly 810,000 BTC, revealing the vast gap between both markets.
BlackRock surpassed $1.1 billion in assets under management with its European bitcoin ETP, the iShares Bitcoin ETP (IB1T), since its launch in March 2025.
The fund holds approximately 14,200 BTC and operates on three of the continent’s main exchanges: Euronext Paris, Euronext Amsterdam and Xetra. The asset manager is exploring the addition of new European markets, though the lack of regulatory clarity in the region remains the main obstacle to faster expansion.
BlackRock’s European iShares Bitcoin ETP (IB1T) Holds About 14,200 BTC as AUM Tops $1.1B
BlackRock’s European iShares Bitcoin ETP (IB1T) has surpassed $1.1 billion in assets under management, with holdings of roughly 14,200 BTC. The product launched in March 2025 and is listed… pic.twitter.com/5uHhNC3Y8x
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) May 4, 2026
BlackRock Awaits Greater Regulatory Clarity
The contrast with BlackRock’s performance in the United States is stark. The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), backed by a more favorable regulatory framework, surpassed $60 billion in AUM and holds nearly 810,000 BTC in its portfolio, reflecting a substantial difference in the maturity and depth of institutional demand. That same regulatory asymmetry partly explains why BlackRock has yet to launch a European ETP on Ethereum that mirrors its equivalent ETF in the United States.
The Institutional Case Behind the Interest in BTC
Among the drivers behind institutional adoption of products like BlackRock’s are global geopolitical and financial uncertainty, exposure to the U.S. dollar amid currency volatility, and the risk of monetary devaluation and inflation. For a growing number of institutions, bitcoin functions as a store of value against those factors.
BTC’s volatility remains the most common objection among companies that have yet to enter the market. However, the long-term holding model adopted by major funds tends to bring stability to the price and, in turn, reduce the perceived risk for new institutional entrants.
Bitcoin reclaimed the $80,000 level for the first time since January 31, though it met resistance after a 3% rally. Technical analyst Ali argued that the floor is already in place and projects a significant rally based on historical recovery cycles from 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022. On the other hand, veteran trader Peter Brandt warned that BTC could see further declines in the coming months before an eventual recovery toward $250,000.
