TLDR
- BlackRock’s crypto assets surged 63% to $79.6 billion during the third quarter of 2026.
- Investors added $7.9 billion, reversing $2.2 billion in withdrawals during the first half.
- Rising crypto prices contributed $22.9 billion to BlackRock’s quarterly digital asset growth.
- BlackRock’s crypto holdings remained 23% below their $104 billion level from September 2025.
- BlackRock generated $39 million in quarterly revenue from digital asset fees and securities lending.
BlackRock’s crypto ETF business recovered in the third quarter of 2026 as higher crypto prices and new investments lifted assets. However, its digital asset holdings remained below their value a year earlier, according to Wednesday’s earnings report.
BlackRock’s crypto ETF business records new inflows
BlackRock reported $79.6 billion in digital assets under management at September 30, up from $48.8 billion three months earlier. The increase followed a difficult first half for cryptocurrency markets and related investment products.
Clients added $7.9 billion during the quarter, reversing approximately $2.2 billion in withdrawals over the first six months of the year. The inflows came alongside rising valuations for Bitcoin and other assets held by its funds.
Trading showed mixed demand across products. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) attracted $22.4 million on October 9, when US spot Bitcoin ETFs collectively received $21.1 million. The figures reflected one trading session rather than quarterly fund totals.
Higher crypto prices drive quarterly gains
Market gains contributed $22.9 billion to the quarterly increase in digital assets, compared with $7.9 billion from investors. The figures show that changes in asset prices accounted for most of the growth between June and September.
The recovery followed a period when lower Bitcoin and Ether prices reduced the value of crypto investment holdings. BlackRock reports its digital assets at their market value, which changes independently of client deposits and withdrawals.
Demand also differed between its funds in October. BlackRock’s Ether product, ETHA, recorded $201.89 million in outflows on October 6, while IBIT attracted $122 million that day.
Digital assets remain below year-earlier level
Despite the quarterly advance, BlackRock’s crypto holdings were 23% below the $104 billion reported in September 2025. Over the past year, investors added $6.3 billion, but market movements reduced holdings by $30.6 billion.
Recent industry flows have also varied. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $678.9 million in net withdrawals from October 5 through October 9, although BlackRock’s Bitcoin fund registered a small weekly inflow.
BlackRock earned $39 million in third-quarter fees and securities lending revenue from digital assets. The earnings statement for BlackRock’s crypto ETF business did not separate IBIT assets or flows from the broader category. Across all operations, the company managed approximately $15.5 trillion at quarter-end.
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