BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETP: The Crypto Revolution Europe Didn’t See Coming!

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Ah, BlackRock—the titan of asset management, the Goliath of Wall Street, and now, the crypto world’s newest darling. 🌟 Fresh off the success of its $48 billion US Bitcoin fund, the behemoth is storming Europe with its first Bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP). Because, why not? The continent clearly needed another reason to obsess over digital gold. 🚀

Set to debut on Xetra, Euronext Paris (ticker: IB1T), and Euronext Amsterdam (ticker: BTCN), this ETP is BlackRock’s latest attempt to make crypto mainstream. And to sweeten the deal, they’re slashing fees to a mere 0.15%—temporarily, of course. Because nothing says “trust us” like a limited-time discount. 🎉

BlackRock’s European Crypto Debut: A “Tipping Point” or Just Another Hype Train?

Manuela Sperandeo, BlackRock’s head of Europe & Middle East iShares Product, called this launch a potential “tipping point” in the industry. Sure, Manuela, because Europe’s $13.6 billion crypto ETP market was just *begging* for a Wall Street giant to swoop in and save the day. 🙄

Meanwhile, the physical Bitcoin backing this ETP will be custodied by Coinbase Global, because who better to guard your digital treasure than a company that once accidentally locked users out of their accounts? 🤷‍♂️

BUIDL on Solana: Because One Blockchain Wasn’t Enough

But wait, there’s more! BlackRock isn’t just stopping at Bitcoin. Oh no, they’re also diving headfirst into the world of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) with their BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL). 🏦

Now, BUIDL is expanding to the Solana blockchain, because why settle for one blockchain when you can have seven? With cross-chain interoperability facilitated by Wormhole, BlackRock is ensuring that your tokens can travel faster than a crypto bro’s Lamborghini. 🚗💨

Carlos Domingo, co-founder and CEO of Securitize, waxed poetic about the move: “Expanding BUIDL to Solana—a blockchain known for its speed, scalability, and cost efficiency—is a natural next step.” Sure, Carlos, because nothing says “natural” like a $1 billion fund hopping blockchains like a caffeinated kangaroo. 🦘

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $88,000, up 8% on a weekly basis. Solana, meanwhile, is flexing with a 20% price spike, trading at $145. Because when BlackRock enters the chat, even the charts start sweating. 📈💦

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2025-03-26 12:43