BlackRock Weighs Tokenized ETFs Tied To RWAs: Bloomberg

Following the success of its spot Bitcoin and spot Ethereum ETFs (exchange-traded funds), asset administration large BlackRock is reportedly seeking to tokenize its ETFs on the blockchain.

In response to a Bloomberg report that cited sources accustomed to the matter, the agency is contemplating tokenizing funds that provide publicity to real-world property (RWA). Nonetheless, this transfer can be topic to “regulatory concerns,” the report added. 

BlackRock Crypto ETFs Appeal to Billions Of {Dollars} At Document Tempo

BlackRock already gives a number of crypto-related merchandise. These embody ETFs that monitor the digital asset market leaders Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), the iShares Bitcoin Belief and the iShares Ethereum Belief.

Information from Farside Buyers reveals that BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF leads the market when it comes to cumulative inflows, with its complete flows to this point standing at $59.513 billion. That is significantly greater than the second-largest fund when it comes to this metric, which is Constancy’s FBTC with its $12.321 billion in cumulative inflows. 

US BTC ETF flows (Supply: Farside Buyers) 

Whereas BlackRock’s spot Ethereum ETF has been one of the best performer of all US spot ETH ETFs, it hasn’t gained as a lot traction because the asset supervisor’s BTC product. Thus far, the ETH ETF has seen $12.721 billion in cumulative inflows. 

Each BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin and spot Ethereum ETFs reached $10 billion in property underneath administration in a single yr or much less. This makes them two of solely three such merchandise to hit this milestone.

Along with these ETFs, BlackRock additionally gives lesser-known “thematic” funds just like the iShares Blockchain and Tech ETF, which invests in an index of crypto-related corporations.

BlackRock Already In The Nascent Tokenization House

The reported plans to tokenize its ETFs comes as BlackRock already manages the world’s largest tokenized cash market fund known as the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL).

That fund crossed the $1 billion mark In March, and now accounts for over $2 billion in managed property. 

Tokenized equities, together with shares and ETFs, are nonetheless a nascent market regardless of a latest uptick in curiosity. Whereas a number of main gamers resembling Robinhood and Kraken are presently out there, there may be lower than $500 million value of those property in circulation, knowledge from RWA.xyz reveals. 

Previously 30 days, there has additionally been a greater than 40% drop within the variety of month-to-month energetic addresses to round 23,940. Month-to-month switch volumes have slid over 22% throughout this era as nicely.

Whereas the reported transfer by BlackRock to tokenize its ETFs will convey the funds on-chain, Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analyst Eric Balchunas questions the “worth add” for customers.

In an X publish, he mentioned that tokenization may assist make the “again workplace (plumbing)” within the conventional finance (TradFi) area “extra environment friendly” by way of the utilization of blockchain know-how.

We have to outline the development higher: If by ‘tokenization’ you imply the again workplace (plumbing) of TradFi shall be barely extra environment friendly by using blockchain know-how? Then positive, nice, most likely will however zzzz. What’s implied tho by the hype is getting precise buyers to promote… https://t.co/SzXROTB9oi

— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) September 11, 2025

“What’s implied tho by the hype is getting precise buyers to promote $VOO et al and purchase a token a la the way in which ETFs stole from MFs,” he wrote.

“I don’t see the worth add for the buyer,” Balchunas added.

In a follow-up remark, he mentioned BlackRock’s transfer to tokenize its ETFs remains to be “a giant raise,” including that it is sensible to tokenize stuff for those that are already on-chain. 

“However the on chain ppl are such a small fraction of the worldwide cash which is why the hype generally feels too heavy for the affect (no less than medium time period),” he wrote. 

TradFi Companies Transfer To Safe Dominance Amid Stablecoin Growth, Liquidity Shift

BlackRock isn’t the one conventional finance agency that’s rising its presence within the blockchain area. 

In April, the Depository Belief & Clearing Company (DTCC) introduced an revolutionary new platform for tokenized collateral administration utilizing its AppChain infrastructure.

A few months after that in July, Goldman Sachs and BNY Mellon partnered to launch a tokenized cash market funds answer. 

Earlier this month, the Nasdaq additionally filed a proposal with the US Securities and Alternate Fee (SEC) to permit buying and selling of listed securities on its major market in tokenized type.

The push into the tokenization area is a part of a broader effort by tradFi corporations to take care of their dominance because the adoption of stablecoins grows and liquidity begins shifting on-chain.

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