Bitcoin News Today: Billionaire Investors Bet Big on Bitcoin's ETF Revolution

Billionaire investors and institutional stakeholders have shown growing confidence in the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), a spot Bitcoin ETF issued by BlackRock, as the fund continues to expand in both asset under management and BTC holdings. In the second quarter, several high-profile hedge fund managers increased their stakes in the ETF, with Israel Englander of Millennium Management adding 3.8 million shares, boosting his position by 22%. Steven Schonfeld of Schonfeld Strategic Advisors increased his holding by 5%, and Tom Steyer of Farallon Capital Management added 1.2 million shares, increasing his stake by 21%. These managers are known for outperforming the S&P 500 in recent years, further validating the appeal of IBIT as a strategic investment vehicle [1].

The iShares Bitcoin Trust has become a landmark product in the cryptocurrency investment space, achieving a monumental milestone in August 2025. As of August 15, 2025, the fund held over 749,000 Bitcoin, representing approximately 3.6% of the total supply of 21 million coins. This level of BTC accumulation reflects the rapid adoption of the ETF by both institutional and retail investors, with the fund's assets under management reaching approximately $88 billion. The ETF’s performance has closely mirrored Bitcoin's price action, with the fund’s share price experiencing a 160.3% increase since its launch in January 2024 [3].

The rise of IBIT has been accompanied by a significant increase in liquidity and trading volume. As of the latest available data, the ETF has an average daily trading volume of around 71.2 million shares, with a 30-day average volume of 43.7 million shares. These figures underscore the fund's robust liquidity, which is further supported by a bid-ask spread of approximately 0.01%. This tight spread, combined with high trading volumes, makes IBIT the most liquid Bitcoin ETF in the market [3].

The success of IBIT has not gone unnoticed by other market participants. Fidelity’s FBTC, a competing Bitcoin ETF, holds roughly one-third of the BTC holdings of IBIT but trails significantly in terms of trading volume and institutional support. The legacy product GBTC, which charges a higher expense ratio of 1.50%, has seen a steady outflow of assets, highlighting the cost efficiency and operational advantages of newer ETFs like IBIT [3].

The institutional adoption of Bitcoin has been a key driver of IBIT’s growth. Over the past year, the number of large asset managers with positions in the ETF has increased by 150%, and the total number of shares held by these managers has grown by 200%. Additionally, public and private companies have significantly increased their Bitcoin holdings, with the total number of coins owned by corporations rising by 95% in the past year. Companies like Block, Mara, and Semler Scientific have followed the lead of Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, which has added to its Bitcoin position for five consecutive years [1].

BlackRock's IBIT has not only facilitated easier access to Bitcoin for institutional investors but has also simplified the ownership experience for individual investors. Unlike direct Bitcoin ownership, which involves managing wallets, private keys, and navigating exchanges, IBIT allows investors to hold Bitcoin through traditional brokerage accounts, under the same regulatory framework as stocks and bonds. Furthermore, the fund’s expense ratio of 0.25% (waived to 0.12% initially) is significantly lower than the transaction fees associated with buying and selling Bitcoin directly on exchanges, which can range between 0.4% and 0.6% [1].

As the Bitcoin ETF market continues to evolve, the role of infrastructure in supporting these products has become increasingly important. High-performance Bitcoin node networks, such as those provided by QuickNode, are essential for institutions to verify holdings, track transactions in real-time, and maintain compliance with regulatory standards. These infrastructure solutions enable seamless integration between traditional finance and the cryptocurrency market, supporting the continued growth and adoption of Bitcoin ETFs like IBIT [3].

Source:

[1] Billionaires Are Buying a BlackRock ETF -- It Could Soar ... (https://www.fool.com/investing/2025/09/04/billionaires-buy-etf-soar-8990-wall-street-experts/)

[2] iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) Latest Prices, Charts & News (https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/etf/ibit)

[3] IBIT BlackRock ETF Explained: An Essential Guide to Spot ... (https://blog.quicknode.com/ibit-blackrock-bitcoin-etf-guide-2025/)