Bloomberg: BlackRock Prepares to Tokenize ETFs Based on Real Assets and Cryptocurrencies

BlackRock intends to expand its digital asset initiatives by tokenizing exchange-traded funds (ETFs). According to Bloomberg, citing sources, this involves issuing tokens linked to fund shares on a blockchain basis. This approach will enable 24/7 trading, simplify settlements, and attract additional liquidity.

Interest in tokenization has increased following the success of the company’s cryptocurrency products. According to SoSoValue, BlackRock’s spot ETF assets under management are:

• Bitcoin fund — $86.6 billion
• Ethereum ETF — $16.3 billion

Additionally, BlackRock already has successful experience in the RWA segment. In 2024, the company launched the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL), whose shares were initially issued in the form of ERC-20 tokens. The fund invests in short-term U.S. Treasury bonds, combining yield with low risk. Its assets are currently valued at approximately $2.2 billion.

BUIDL’s partner was the Securitize platform, and experts suggest that if other ETFs are tokenized, they will also be placed through this platform.

Bloomberg emphasizes that further progress in this direction will depend on the stance of U.S. regulators.