The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has rapidly emerged as BlackRock’s most profitable exchange-traded fund (ETF), generating an impressive $244.5 million in annual revenue since its inception less than two years ago. This new spot Bitcoin ETF has significantly outperformed traditional funds, driven by a burgeoning appetite for regulated cryptocurrency investment amid Bitcoin’s remarkable price rally.
In a recent commentary, Bloomberg’s senior ETF analyst, Eric Balchunas, highlighted IBIT’s prowess in the ETF market. The fund has surpassed established competitors, including the venerable Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV), which has been operational for 25 years and manages nearly seven times the assets of IBIT. Balchunas noted that IBIT’s total assets under management (AUM) now stand at $97.8 billion, with the fund on the verge of breaching the $100 billion threshold, requiring only an additional $2.2 billion to reach that milestone.
Comparatively, other significant ETFs have taken much longer to achieve similar asset volumes. For instance, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) reached $100 billion in AUM after 2,011 days, while IBIT is on track to accomplish this feat in fewer than 450 days since its launch—a record-setting pace in the ETF industry.
Furthermore, the excitement surrounding IBIT coincides with what the cryptocurrency community regards as ‘Uptober,’ characterized by soaring Bitcoin prices and substantial inflows into Bitcoin ETFs. Last week alone, Bitcoin ETFs witnessed $3.2 billion in net inflows, marking the largest weekly inflow for 2025 and the second-highest in the history of the market. IBIT contributed significantly to this surge, attracting $1.78 billion in inflows during the same period.
On October 6, Bitcoin ETFs recorded an additional $1.19 billion in net inflows, marking the largest single-day inflow of the year and the first billion-dollar day since July. Out of this amount, $969.95 million came from BlackRock’s IBIT, reaffirming its status as the leading Bitcoin ETF. As of October, total inflows have reached $2.29 billion in just six days, suggesting that this month could be one of the most robust yet for Bitcoin ETFs.
The bullish market dynamics are further underscored by Bitcoin’s recent price performance. The leading cryptocurrency surpassed $125,000 and reached new all-time highs, consistently leading to a strong market momentum bolstered by institutional investments. As of the latest data, Bitcoin was trading at approximately $124,569, reflecting nearly a 9% increase over the past week.
As the market landscape evolves, IBIT’s performance illustrates the growing integration of cryptocurrency into mainstream finance, showcasing a shift in investor sentiment towards regulated exposures in digital assets.
