To people’s surprise, data from Arkham Intelligence reveal that on October 1, 2024, the sole Bitcoin ETF participating in the Bitcoin purchase was BlackRock. From this development, it is clear that BlackRock is escalating its power in cryptocurrency and is, therefore, a fundamental institutional figure in the world of finance.
Arkham Intelligence Sheds Light on BlackRock’s Move
This revelation was made by Arkham, a blockchain analytics platform known for its ability to explain crypto markets and the pattern of transactions. It sparked excitement in the digital finance fraternity.
Arkham’s tweet stated:
“Not a SINGLE ETF bought Bitcoin yesterday. Except for BlackRock.”
This comes at a time when BTC prices are around $61,476 per coin, as Arkham pointed out in an analysis of BlackRock’s balance sheet. A snapshot of transactions shared with the announcement reveals a broad web of transactions, with BlackRock tied to various wallets. This kind of strategic buying has more weight, especially when made by BlackRock, given the otherwise quiet ETF market.
BlackRock’s Crypto Portfolio: Bitcoin Leads the Charge
BlackRock information from Arkham portfolio review found that the firm now possesses 366.5K BTC worth $22.53 billion, although BTC recently fell $188 per coin. Going beyond Bitcoin holdings, they have Ethereum in large proportions (387.8k ETH worth $946.96 million), and the USDC stablecoin is also included in their balance sheet. Unlike other ETFs, BlackRock’s purchase of Bitcoins shows confidence in its capacity to be a viable financial asset in the future.
BlackRock’s total crypto assets stood at over $23.56 billion despite suffering a dip of $87.3 million in the past 24 hours.
Strategic Timing and Future Outlook
This massive purchase of BTC by BlackRock may indicate that the firm expects the Bitcoin price to rise or there is another long-term scheme to strengthen BlackRock’s presence in the emerging crypto universe.
The other ETFs were hesitant, but BlackRock took the leap and bought Bitcoin. This emphasizes the company’s innovative investment approach. As long as companies like BlackRock can continue to be involved in the market, other large investors may be pulled into the cryptocurrency space as it becomes more compliant with traditional financial markets.
