Catenaa, Tuesday, June 17, 2025-Asset management titan BlackRock has emerged as the second-largest holder of Bitcoin, with its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) now controlling more than 662,500 BTC, equivalent to over $72 billion and more than 3% of Bitcoin’s total supply.
The staggering accumulation took just 341 trading days.
The milestone marks a major shift in Bitcoin’s trajectory, from a fringe asset championed by libertarian technologists to a core holding within institutional portfolios.
Only Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, holds more.
BlackRock’s rapid accumulation dwarfs historical ETF growth rates. It took the SPDR Gold Shares fund over four years to reach a similar valuation.
In contrast, BlackRock’s ascent occurred in under 12 months, reflecting an aggressive push to redefine Bitcoin’s role from speculative asset to strategic reserve.
The asset manager now holds more Bitcoin than most centralized exchanges, altering the liquidity profile and market dynamics of the world’s leading cryptocurrency.
Analysts say the growing role of ETFs could make their daily inflows and outflows a major force behind Bitcoin price movements.
BlackRock is now positioning Bitcoin alongside traditional assets such as stocks, bonds and gold.
Its guidance recommends a 1% to 2% portfolio allocation, arguing that the digital asset provides hedge-like benefits against monetary policy volatility.
Analysts say however say that still, the institutional embrace of Bitcoin raises questions.
While the network remains decentralized, access is increasingly routed through centralized platforms.
This creates a paradox: Bitcoin’s decentralized ethos clashes with its growing centralization in custody and exposure.
