BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Belief (IBIT) started buying and selling within the UK on Oct. 20, opening a market that would funnel between $1.5 billion and $2 billion into the fund over time as UK retail buyers achieve regulated entry to Bitcoin (BTC) publicity.
The launch capitalizes on the Monetary Conduct Authority’s (FCA) latest reversal of its ban on crypto-based exchange-traded merchandise (ETPs).
BlackRock’s US Bitcoin ETF, which launched two years in the past and has practically $65 billion in lifetime inflows, now gives British buyers entry at roughly $11 per unit. It is a fraction of Bitcoin’s present $110,365 value.
BlackRock reported $17 billion in web inflows to its digital asset merchandise in the course of the third quarter alone, a part of $205 billion in complete web inflows because the agency crossed $13 trillion in belongings beneath administration.
The mathematics behind the chance
The UK crypto market holds an estimated £13.3 billion throughout 7 million buyers, per FCA knowledge from March 2025.
An IG report from early October projected the market may develop 20% following the FCA’s coverage shift, translating to £2.4 billion to £3.2 billion in new capital, or roughly $3.2 billion to $4.3 billion.
Bitcoin merchandise have captured 60.6% of crypto funding flows globally, in response to CoinShares’ newest report.
Utilized to UK projections, Bitcoin-focused autos may draw $1.93 billion to $2.6 billion. IBIT’s dominance within the US market, the place it instructions 75.5% of all Bitcoin ETF inflows since launch, suggests the fund may safe $1.5 billion to $2 billion from British buyers.
Facilitating onboarding
The fund’s construction removes conventional obstacles that stored mainstream buyers on the sidelines.
Moderately than navigating crypto exchanges, managing non-public keys, or buying complete cash, buyers purchase regulated shares by acquainted brokerage accounts.
The low entry threshold, roughly $11 per unit, democratizes entry to an asset that trades above $100,000.
BlackRock’s survey knowledge helps aggressive development projections. The agency expects a 21$ enhance in UK adults investing in crypto for the primary time over the following 12 months, with Britain rating third in European crypto funding development.
The corporate predicts 4 million Bitcoin buyers within the UK by year-end.
Curiosity concentrates amongst youthful demographics. IG’s analysis discovered 50% of 18-24-year-olds and 49% of 25-34-year-olds would contemplate investing in crypto by way of exchange-traded notes.
Moreover, 32percentof potential buyers cite regulatory oversight and security as major motivations, whereas 19% worth the power to carry crypto inside tax-efficient Particular person Financial savings Accounts and Self-Invested Private Pensions.
Bitcoin’s mounted provide of 21 million cash, with 95% already mined, creates shortage dynamics that amplify demand pressures.
BTC’s value grew 120% final yr, and is up by practically 20% in 2025, pushed partly by President Donald Trump’s pro-crypto stance following his return to the White Home.
The UK authorities outlined plans final month for a complete crypto-asset regulatory regime overseen by the FCA, positioning Britain to compete with jurisdictions that moved sooner on digital asset frameworks.
BlackRock’s launch transforms that regulatory shift into accessible merchandise for tens of millions of retail buyers who beforehand confronted exclusion or complexity obstacles.
