Barclays Acquires $131 Million in Bitcoin ETF Shares from BlackRock
Barclays has invested in Bitcoin ETFs, acquiring 2,473,064 shares in the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) valued at $131 million as of December 31. This purchase aligns with a trend among institutional investors favoring ETFs for Bitcoin exposure.
Key points:
- Institutional interest in Bitcoin ETFs is rising, with Barclays joining Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan.
- SEC approval of Bitcoin ETFs simplifies access for institutions, reducing volatility and regulatory risks.
- Goldman Sachs increased its Bitcoin ETF holdings by 121%, totaling $1.57 billion.
- JPMorgan reported holdings worth $964,322 in recent filings.
- U.S. Bitcoin ETFs experienced inflows of $5 billion in January 2025, with expectations of over $50 billion by year-end.
- BlackRock’s IBIT led January inflows at $3.2 billion, followed by Fidelity’s FBTC at $1.3 billion.
- Bitcoin reached an all-time high of $109,000 prior to the U.S. presidential inauguration, with projections suggesting a rise to $200,000 by late 2025.
The growing adoption of Bitcoin in traditional finance is underscored by these trends.