Blackstone, the world’s largest different asset supervisor, has entered the Bitcoin house with a $1.08 million funding in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF. This can be a massive deal for each Wall Avenue and the Bitcoin world.
Blackstone has made its first direct funding in bitcoin via regulated monetary merchandise. A Could 20, 2025, SEC filing revealed that the agency bought 23,094 shares of the iShares Bitcoin Belief (IBIT), BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Whereas $1.08 million is a small drop within the bucket in comparison with Blackstone’s $1.2 trillion in belongings below administration, it is a massive deal for the non-public fairness large which has been skeptical of bitcoin up to now.
In 2019, the corporate’s CEO, Steve Schwarzman, said he didn’t perceive Bitcoin. “I used to be raised in a world the place somebody wants to regulate currencies,” he stated, admitting he struggled to know the expertise.
Quick ahead to 2025, and it’s now one of many many institutional buyers taking bitcoin significantly — however doing so via cautious, regulated channels.
The funding was made via Blackstone’s $2.63 billion Different Multi-Technique Fund (BTMIX), which invests in a variety of monetary devices.
As an alternative of shopping for bitcoin immediately, Blackstone selected to get publicity via a bitcoin ETF — which is what number of massive establishments are approaching the digital asset. Spot Bitcoin ETFs like IBIT enable buyers to trace the value of bitcoin with out having to carry the digital asset itself.
There are a number of benefits to this method. ETFs commerce like shares, are regulated by the SEC and maintain advanced points like custody and compliance. This makes them extra engaging for corporations which are new to Bitcoin or nonetheless cautious of the dangers.
Associated: Bitcoin ETFs Provide Convenient Price Exposure, But At What Cost?
Blackstone’s alternative of a bitcoin ETF exhibits how efficient these merchandise are at connecting conventional finance to the digital age.
Along with IBIT, Blackstone additionally disclosed smaller investments in two different digital-asset-related corporations:
- 9,889 shares of the ProShares Bitcoin Technique ETF (BITO), valued at about $181,166.
- 4,300 shares of Bitcoin Depot Inc. (BTM), a bitcoin ATM operator, price roughly $6,300.
Collectively, these are a tiny fraction of Blackstone’s portfolio however present rising curiosity and exploration into the house.
Since its launch in January 2024, BlackRock’s IBIT ETF has turn into the top-performing Bitcoin ETF within the U.S. As of mid-Could 2025, the fund has seen over $46.1 billion in internet inflows with no outflows since early April.
IBIT is forward of different main ETFs like Constancy’s FBTC and ARK’s 21Shares Bitcoin ETF.
However the development is obvious: massive corporations are getting snug with regulated bitcoin merchandise. Business insiders see Blackstone’s transfer as a part of a broader shift in institutional sentiment in the direction of bitcoin.
This can be a small funding however it issues due to who’s making it. Blackstone is understood for being conservative and risk-averse.
Its determination to place even a tiny quantity of capital into Bitcoin ETFs means tradfi corporations are getting extra assured in bitcoin as an asset class. Blackstone is dipping its toe within the water, and even a small step is important given its dimension and affect.
