BlackRock has sharply increased its exposure to digital assets, committing more than $1.027 billion to Bitcoin and Ethereum over three consecutive trading sessions, a move that underscores growing institutional conviction even as crypto markets remain volatile at the start of 2026.
The purchases were executed through BlackRock's exchange-traded funds, the iShares Bitcoin Trust and the iShares Ethereum Trust, according to on-chain data reviewed by market analysts. The accumulation coincided with a pullback in digital-asset prices, with Bitcoin sliding roughly 1.64% to about $90,950 during the buying window.
Data traced through Coinbase Prime, the institutional custodian used by BlackRock's crypto ETFs, shows that the firm acquired approximately 9,619 BTC, valued at about $878 million, alongside 46,851 ETH, worth roughly $149 million. The transactions were finalized on Wednesday, Jan. 7, following several days of market turbulence.
The buying marked a sharp reversal from early January, when BlackRock deposited Bitcoin and Ethereum with Binance for potential sale. The pivot back to accumulation has been interpreted by analysts as a strategic response to what some describe as a looming supply squeeze, rather than a short-term trading maneuver.
Market trackers including Lookonchain and SoSoValue noted that while several competing crypto ETFs recorded net outflows during the same period, BlackRock's Bitcoin fund absorbed much of the selling pressure. The flows helped stabilize prices near key technical levels, reinforcing the view that large institutional players are increasingly willing to step in during periods of weakness.
Ethereum's inclusion in the buying spree drew particular attention after the token lagged Bitcoin for much of 2025. The renewed inflows pushed total net assets in BlackRock's Ethereum trust toward $11.4 billion, signaling revived institutional appetite for smart-contract platforms as part of diversified portfolios.
With the latest purchases, BlackRock's total Bitcoin holdings are estimated at roughly 780,410 BTC, placing the firm among the largest known holders globally and narrowing the gap with the approximately 1.1 million coins attributed to Bitcoin's pseudonymous creator. Analysts say that, at current acquisition rates, BlackRock could surpass all other single entities by year-end.
