Investors are increasing their focus on various assets, and the ETF sector is taking the lead, possibly setting records this year.
BlackRock, the leading asset management firm with $10 trillion in assets, achieved a significant milestone by highlighting its ownership of some of the fastest-growing exchange-traded funds ever seen.
“This year, our digital asset ETPs and active ETFs went from nearly nothing to 10, amassing over $100 billion in digital assets and more than $80 billion in active ETFs. This rapid expansion showcases our capability to adapt and distribute new products in emerging markets,” said CEO Larry Fink during an earnings call.
The iShares Bitcoin ETF (ticker IBIT) stands out as the largest crypto ETF, enabling investors to engage with cryptocurrencies without direct ownership. Recently, assets reached over $100 billion but experienced a decline due to a dip in Bitcoin’s value.
Bitcoin, the dominant cryptocurrency, hit an all-time high of $126,272.76 on October 6, 2025, but has since dropped below $110,000.
Tensions between the US and China have negatively impacted the digital asset market, simultaneously pushing gold prices to a new peak of $4,280.20 per ounce.
Another notable player is the iShares Ethereum ETF (ticker ETHA), which currently holds about $16 billion in assets.
“Our leading products, IBIT and ETHA, rank among the top five in terms of inflows in the ETP sector,” stated Martin Small, CFO and Global Head of Corporate Strategy, on the call. Ethereum has also seen a decline, dropping to around $3,800 from its peak of $4,955.23 on August 24, 2025.
Despite the fluctuations, Bitcoin and Ethereum are each up roughly 14% this year, slightly surpassing the S&P 500’s rise of 13% as of Friday.
BlackRock’s stock has increased by 14% since the year’s start.
