BlackRock has formally listed its iShares Bitcoin Change-Traded Product (ETP) on the London Inventory Change (LSE).
This comes after the Monetary Conduct Authority’s (FCA) choice to ease restrictions on crypto-linked funding merchandise.
The ETP, ticker IB1T, permits retail traders to achieve publicity to Bitcoin with out straight buying and selling or storing the cryptocurrency, providing a simplified entry level into the digital asset market.
The product is totally bodily backed, with all Bitcoin held in safe custody by means of Coinbase.
BlackRock emphasised that the ETP removes the technical challenges of holding cryptocurrency, transferring duty for safe storage to the issuer.
In response to the agency, Coinbase employs a mixture of bodily safety, multiparty computation, and each day transfers to segregated chilly storage wallets, guaranteeing institutional-grade safety for traders.
“The iShares Bitcoin ETP leverages years of integration between Coinbase and BlackRock, offering UK traders with a safe gateway to digital property by means of conventional buying and selling platforms,” stated Jane Sloan, EMEA Head of International Product Options at BlackRock.
With UK crypto possession projected to develop to almost 4 million adults over the following yr, the launch is seen as well timed, offering entry to a regulated, acquainted funding car.
The ETP has a complete expense ratio (TER) of 15 foundation factors each year, together with a brief payment waiver till the tip of 2025.
From January 1, 2026, the TER will enhance to 25 bps. The BlackRock Funding Institute advises that for traders with appropriate governance and threat tolerance, a 1–2% allocation to Bitcoin inside multi-asset portfolios is affordable, reflecting each potential upside and the asset’s excessive volatility.
UK retail ban elevate on ETNs and ETPs
The debut follows a regulatory shift within the UK after the FCA lifted its four-year ban on retail entry to crypto-linked exchange-traded notes (ETNs) and ETPs. Beforehand, retail traders have been barred from such merchandise attributable to excessive volatility and shopper threat issues.
The FCA famous that the market has matured, with institutional-grade custodians and improved liquidity making such investments extra appropriate for regulated markets.
Whereas the retail ban on crypto derivatives stays, the FCA has indicated ongoing monitoring of high-risk investments and opened the door for fund tokenization initiatives within the asset administration sector.
The UK launch mirrors the success of BlackRock’s U.S. Bitcoin choices. Its flagship iShares Bitcoin Belief ETF (IBIT) now manages over $100 billion, attracting each retail and institutional traders by means of conventional brokerage accounts.
Within the third quarter of 2025, BlackRock reported $17 billion in internet inflows into digital asset merchandise, underlining robust demand for regulated crypto publicity.
