BlackRock Launches Two ETFs in Canada With Bitcoin Exposure

BlackRock Canada has introduced two new exchange-traded funds, including a diversified portfolio that combines global equities with a small allocation to Bitcoin. The two funds began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Monday. They are the iShares Equity + Bitcoin ETF Portfolio (IBQT) and the iShares Core MSCI All-International Equity Index ETF (XINT).

IBQT allocates 97% of its portfolio to Canadian, US, international and emerging-market equities, while the remaining 3% is dedicated to Bitcoin exposure through BlackRock’s Canadian iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT), which trades on Cboe Canada. Rather than selecting individual stocks directly, IBQT primarily invests through other iShares ETFs to build both its equity and Bitcoin exposure.

XINT offers broad international equity exposure

The second fund, XINT, tracks the MSCI ACWI ex North America IMI Index, providing investors with exposure to more than 5,000 companies across as many as 40 developed and emerging markets outside Canada and the United States.

Both ETFs are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada through the RBC iShares alliance. BlackRock said its global iShares business managed approximately $6.2 trillion in assets across more than 1,700 ETFs as of June 30.

BlackRock maintains strong position in Bitcoin ETFs

BlackRock already holds a leading position in the Bitcoin ETF market through its US-listed iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). According to CoinMarketCap data, IBIT is currently the largest US spot Bitcoin ETF by assets under management, with approximately $47.9 billion in AUM. The launch of IBQT extends BlackRock’s Bitcoin offering by integrating a modest crypto allocation directly into a diversified investment portfolio.

Sources:

https://cointelegraph.com/news/blackrock-launches-two-canada-etfs-with-one-allocating-3-to-bitcoin

https://coinmarketcap.com/etf/bitcoin/