2-4-2025 – BlackRock, a titan of global finance overseeing a staggering $12 trillion in assets, has boldly stepped into the British cryptocurrency arena. On 1 April 2025, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) granted the firm its official seal of approval, registering it as a crypto asset provider—the 51st such entity to earn this distinction. This landmark moment signals a seismic shift, nudging digital currencies ever closer to the heart of mainstream, regulated finance, as noted by industry observers at Coincu.
With this green light, BlackRock is poised to roll out an array of crypto services across the United Kingdom, headlined by its freshly minted iShares Bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP). Already making waves, the ETP launched on the Euronext exchanges in Paris and Amsterdam, boasting an eye-catching promotional fee of just 0.15% until year-end—one of the most competitive rates in Europe. Come 2026, that figure will edge up to 0.25%, bringing it in line with rivals like CoinShares. It’s a calculated move, blending affordability with ambition, as BlackRock sets its sights on European dominance.
The firm’s UK venture builds on a roaring success across the Atlantic. In January 2024, BlackRock unveiled the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) in the United States, a spot Bitcoin ETF that swiftly claimed the crown as the nation’s largest, amassing over $47 billion in assets. That triumph helped propel the collective haul of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs past $107 billion in their debut year—a record-shattering feat for any ETF launch in history. With Bitcoin now hovering above $84,000 and commanding over 61% of the crypto market, BlackRock’s timing couldn’t be sharper as it taps into Europe’s swelling institutional appetite for digital wealth.
Speculation is also rife about what’s next in BlackRock’s crypto playbook. Industry insider Nate Geraci, President of The ETF Store, recently hinted that the firm might soon table plans for an XRP-focused exchange-traded fund—a prospect that’s set pulses racing among XRP devotees. They see BlackRock’s deepening crypto footprint as a springboard for groundbreaking products down the line. Meanwhile, analysts suggest this UK foothold could turbocharge Britain’s ascent as a nerve centre for crypto innovation, with the rest of Europe watching keenly as regulatory currents shift.
