BlackRock Income Fund Raises Bitcoin ETF Holdings by 14%

BlackRock’s Strategic Income Opportunities Portfolio has boosted its holdings in the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) exchange-traded fund by 14%, according to a recent SEC filing. The fund now holds 2.4 million shares of IBIT, valued at $155.8 million as of September 30.

This increase marks a significant rise from the 2.1 million shares reported at the end of June. The move reflects the fund’s flexible investment strategy, which allows for nontraditional assets like Bitcoin ETFs alongside its core fixed-income holdings.

Fund’s Flexible Mandate Supports Bitcoin ETF Inclusion

The Strategic Income Opportunities Portfolio is an unconstrained bond fund that invests across a broad range of asset classes, including government debt, corporate credit, mortgages, emerging markets, and cash equivalents. Its mandate permits adding ETFs when they contribute to overall return and diversification objectives.

This approach enables the portfolio to integrate IBIT shares within its fixed income framework, blending traditional and alternative investments.

Institutional Interest in IBIT Continues to Grow

The IBIT ETF has attracted increasing attention recently. Nasdaq ISE filed to raise the position limit for IBIT options to one million contracts, signaling growing market activity.

Data from Fintel indicates that institutional ownership of IBIT is climbing steadily, reaching its highest level since the fund’s launch with over 400 million shares held by institutions.

Bitcoin and IBIT Market Performance

Bitcoin prices have surpassed $91,000 on Friday, while IBIT shares rose approximately 2% in premarket trading, reflecting positive investor sentiment toward cryptocurrency-related assets.