Bitcoin News Today: BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF Surpasses Vanguard's 4-Year Milestone in 14 Months

U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded a historic $1.2 billion net inflow on October 7, 2025, marking the seventh time since January 2024 that inflows exceeded $1 billion. BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) dominated the flow, capturing $970 million of the total. This surge aligns with a pattern observed in previous large inflow events, which have historically coincided with short-term peaks in Bitcoin's price. For example, inflows of a similar magnitude on March 12, 2024, preceded a $74,000 peak two days later, while July 2025 inflows were followed by a $123,000 high. Bitcoin's price rose above $126,000 on October 7, with analysts noting the potential for a new record high in the coming days.

BlackRock's IBIT has emerged as the most profitable ETF for the firm, generating an estimated $244.5 million in annual revenue and nearing $100 billion in assets under management (AUM). This growth rate-reaching near-$100 billion in 435 days-far outpaces the 2,011-day timeline for Vanguard's S&P 500 ETF (VOO) to achieve the same milestone. The fund's dominance is underscored by its 75.4% share of Bitcoin ETF trading volume as of August 2025, reflecting its role as a primary conduit for institutional and retail capital.

Global crypto ETF inflows reached a record $5.95 billion in the week ending October 4, according to CoinShares data. The U.S. led with $5 billion, followed by Switzerland ($563 million) and Germany ($312 million). Bitcoin attracted $3.55 billion of the total, while Ethereum, Solana, and XRP secured $1.48 billion, $706.5 million, and $219.4 million, respectively. These inflows coincided with Bitcoin hitting a record $126,223 on October 5, signaling robust institutional and retail demand amid a weakening U.S. dollar and economic uncertainty.

The surge in ETF activity has amplified Bitcoin's integration into traditional finance. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have accumulated over 1.29 million BTC-nearly 6% of the total supply-since their approval in January 2024. This has driven a shift in market structure, with ETF flows now serving as a key driver of Bitcoin's volatility and price discovery. For instance, inflows in July and August 2025 correlated with Bitcoin's ascent to record highs, while outflows temporarily dented momentum. Analysts note that ETFs have tightened trading spreads, improved liquidity, and reduced price volatility compared to pre-ETF market dynamics.

BlackRock's Q2 2025 results highlight the transformative impact of crypto ETFs. The firm reported $14 billion in digital asset inflows, a 366% increase from Q1, with crypto ETFs accounting for 16.5% of total ETF inflows. Despite a $52 billion redemption from a single institutional client, BlackRock's AUM reached a record $12.5 trillion, driven by $152 billion in net inflows for the first half of 2025. Digital assets contributed $40 million in base fees, up 18% from Q1, though still representing just 1% of the firm's total revenue.

The broader crypto market has also seen structural shifts. Bitcoin's mining hashrate surpassed 1 zettahash for the first time in April 2025, while publicly listed companies now hold over 1 million BTC as a treasury asset. Deutsche Bank predicts Bitcoin could feature on central banks' balance sheets alongside gold by 2030, underscoring its growing institutional acceptance.

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[4] title4 (https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/2025/10/07/global-crypto-etfs-attract-record-us595-billion-as-bitcoin-scales-new-highs)

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[7] title7 (https://cointelegraph.com/news/blackrock-crypto-inflows-q2-total-flows-slump)