Investors favor Bitcoin and Ethereum in ETFs according to BlackRock

The interest of institutional investors in cryptos continues to grow, but not all assets benefit from the same enthusiasm. As crypto ETFs proliferate, the strategies of traditional finance giants offer valuable insight into market priorities. BlackRock, the world's leading asset manager, has just provided a clear answer: for the vast majority of investors, two assets largely dominate flows. According to the company, most demand for crypto ETFs today is focused on bitcoin and Ethereum, while other cryptos remain largely behind.

Bitcoin and Ethereum capture most of institutional demand

In a recent talk, Robert Mitchnick, head of crypto at BlackRock, provided a clear analysis of institutional demand for crypto ETFs.

According to him, investor interest is focused almost exclusively on the two largest cryptos on the market. He explain Thus that “customer interest is very largely focused on bitcoin and Ethereum”while other assets only trigger much more limited “pockets of interest”.

This vision is based on several observations made by BlackRock:

• Bitcoin is seen as a monetary alternative and a form “digital gold” in institutional portfolios;
• Ethereum is considered a technological investment, linked to the development of blockchain and decentralized applications;
• Other cryptos attract much more limited interest from institutional investors.

Investment data confirms this trend. BlackRock says more than 90% of investors in its Bitcoin ETF adopt a long-term holding strategy, reflecting an accumulation logic rather than a short-term speculative approach. This dynamic illustrates the way in which major financial players are gradually integrating these assets into their portfolios.

BlackRock's strategic offensive on the Ethereum ETF

As an extension of this market vision, BlackRock also unveiled a new step in its crypto strategy with the launch of an Ethereum ETF integrating staking. Called iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF, this product allows investors to benefit from both exposure to the price of ETH and income generated by staking on the network. Such a development reflects the asset manager's desire to expand the offering of financial products linked to blockchain infrastructures.

This initiative is part of a cautious but structured approach. BlackRock claims to adopt a rigorous selection of assets likely to be integrated into its financial products. According to Robert Mitchnick, the company favors cryptos with sufficient market depth, high liquidity and a clear investment framework before considering their integration into an ETF.

The current concentration of institutional flows on Ethereum and bitcoin confirms their status as dominant assets in traditional finance. If other cryptos manage to reach a comparable level of maturity and adoption, they could gradually attract the attention of asset managers.