BlackRock Boosts Bitcoin with 1-2% Slice in $150B Model Portfolios

BlackRock’s making waves in crypto again, tucking its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) ETF into its massive $150 billion model-portfolio universe, per a February 28, 2025, Bloomberg report.

The $11 trillion asset management titan’s giving Bitcoin a 1-2% allocation in its target portfolios—a small but potent nod that could spark fresh demand amid crypto’s wild ride this past half-year.

This isn’t just a random shuffle. BlackRock’s been a game-changer since spot Bitcoin ETFs got the green light in 2024, opening the floodgates for big-money players to dip into BTC without touching the coins themselves. IBIT’s launch was a beast—some call it one of the most successful ETF debuts ever—and now it’s getting a new stage to flex. BlackRock’s Michael Gates, head portfolio manager for their Target Allocation ETF models, put it straight: “Bitcoin’s got long-term chops and can mix things up in portfolios with unique diversification.”

The timing’s curious, though. Bitcoin’s taken a beating lately, slipping to $84,000 after kissing $110,000 in January and cracking six figures late last year. Still, BlackRock’s playing the long game here—not chasing the daily drama but banking on BTC’s staying power as the U.S. keeps tweaking its crypto playbook. With policy shifts juicing the market since 2024, this move could fan the flames of institutional interest, even if the price chart’s looking a bit wobbly right now.