BlackRock Goes Bitcoin Maxi, Shows “Little Interest” in Other Cryptos

Financial giants BlackRock have made a splash in the crypto scene so far, with its spot Bitcoin ETF now managing over USD $15B worth of assets.
The company is bullish on Bitcoin’s future in the fintech world, suggesting that Wall St will inevitably begin merging blockchain tech with TradFi.
However, outside of Ethereum, BlackRock’s customer base hasn’t demonstrated much investment interest in altcoins.

The world’s biggest financial institution has been an ally to Bitcoin ever since announcing its spot Bitcoin ETF in June last year. Following SEC approval, BlackRock’s IBIT fund has been outrageously successful, pulling in over USD $15B (AUD $23B) worth of inflows since inception. So it’s not exactly a surprise they’re pretty bullish on Bitcoin – however, according to recent comments, this optimism doesn’t extend to the rest of the cryptosphere.

Related: Crypto Holdings in Super Funds Quadruple, ATO Figures Reveal

Bitcoin “Overwhelmingly the Number One Priority”

Speaking at a Bitcoin Investor Day last week, BlackRock’s Head of Digital Assets, Robert Mitchnick, outlined the company’s philosophy moving forward. According to Mitchnick, the BlackRock customer base is heavily invested in BTC, but is yet to expand their horizons to altcoins other than Ethereum.

…Bitcoin is overwhelmingly the number one priority for clients. And then a little bit Ethereum, and very little everything else.

Robert Mitchnick

He also added that while others in the crypto community are hoping for future altcoin-related products, it isn’t a priority for BlackRock.

Mitchnick was then quizzed about where the business saw Wall Street being in a decade’s time. The response was very positive about Bitcoin’s (and the blockchain’s) potential involvement in the future of finance.

Eventually we expect there will be a convergence where the best of the old system and the new technology will become fused into a new infrastructure system in finance.

Robert Mitchnick

After a rocky week, Bitcoin stabilised over the weekend and is now trading at around USD $67K (AUD $102K).

Bitcoin (BTC), 7-day graph, source: CoinMarketCap