BlackRock is expanding its global footprint in digital assets with plans to launch the iShares Bitcoin ETF on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) by mid-November 2025.
The move will bring the world’s largest asset manager into one of the fastest-growing Bitcoin ETF markets outside the United States, intensifying competition among existing local issuers.
The new ETF will charge a management fee of 0.39% and will wrap the U.S.-listed iShares Bitcoin Trust, providing Australian investors with regulated exposure to Bitcoin without the need to directly hold or manage the asset.
BlackRock said the structure offers a cost-effective and operationally simple entry point into the cryptocurrency market.
BlackRock Takes on VanEck and Monochrome in Australia’s Booming Bitcoin ETF Market
Tamara Stats, director of institutional client business at BlackRock Australasia, said the product responds to “growing institutional interest” in Bitcoin as a potential portfolio diversifier.
Steve Ead, head of global product solutions, added that making IBIT available locally reflects BlackRock’s focus on “broadening access and democratizing investment opportunities for more Australians.”
BlackRock’s arrival adds a heavyweight competitor to an already active Australian Bitcoin ETF sector. The top players include Global X 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (EBTC), VanEck Bitcoin ETF (VBTC), Monochrome Bitcoin ETF (IBTC), and DigitalX Bitcoin ETF (BTXX).
Source: Stockspot
These funds each manage between A$150 million and A$300 million in assets, with VanEck leading in liquidity and Global X and Monochrome maintaining strong inflows.
Monochrome’s IBTC, which holds over 1,000 BTC and A$188 million in assets as of October, was the first in the country to directly hold Bitcoin.
The entry of BlackRock’s IBIT is expected to further elevate competition and liquidity within the market.
It arrives at a time when local ETFs have shown strong performance aligned with Bitcoin’s rally past $100,000 and when regulators are solidifying a framework to integrate crypto products into Australia’s mainstream financial system.
BlackRock’s entry follows its recent expansion into the United Kingdom, where its iShares Bitcoin ETP (IB1T) debuted on the London Stock Exchange in October.
The physically backed product, custodied by Coinbase, marked the reopening of the UK’s retail crypto market following the Financial Conduct Authority’s reversal of its 2021 ban on crypto exchange-traded products.
ASIC Expands Digital Asset Oversight; BlackRock Reports $104 Billion in Crypto AUM
The launch comes as Australia’s corporate regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), updates its stance on digital assets.
Under new guidance issued last week, most digital assets, including wrapped tokens, stablecoins, tokenized securities, and digital wallets, are now classified as financial products.
Firms dealing with such products must obtain an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) by June 30, 2026.
While Bitcoin itself is not a financial product, ASIC clarified that investment vehicles and services offering Bitcoin exposure may fall under regulatory oversight.
To ease the transition, ASIC has introduced a no-action position until mid-2026, allowing providers time to comply with the licensing requirements.
Additionally, in the 2025 financial year, AFCA received 159 crypto-related complaints, mostly linked to scams and poor disclosure practices.
Globally, BlackRock’s iShares platform remains a major revenue driver. In its latest quarterly report, the firm said its ETFs attracted a record $205 billion in net inflows in the third quarter alone, with $17 billion coming from its digital asset ETFs.
Source: BlackRock
Year-to-date inflows have reached $34 billion, bringing total crypto assets under management to nearly $104 billion.
The iShares Bitcoin Trust, which launched less than two years ago, has become BlackRock’s most profitable ETF, generating nearly $245 million in annual fees and surpassing long-standing funds such as the iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF and the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF.
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