Barclays PLC discloses $131M BTC holdings through Blackrock’s IBIT

Barclays PLC has become the latest traditional financial institution to reveal its association with the crypto market. The British bank with operations all over the world disclosed a $131 million investment in Bitcoin through Blackrock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT). 

BlackRock’s IBIT launched in January 2024, and it allows investors to gain direct exposure to Bitcoin’s price movement without directly owning the cryptocurrency itself. The ETF has over $57 billion in assets. 

Barclays revealed its Bitcoin exposure in its Q4 2024 13F filing, joining other major financial entities like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, which started to accrue significant holdings in Bitcoin ETFs in the second quarter of 2024.

Barclays invests $131 million in BlackRock Bitcoin ETF 

Barclays PLC disclosed in its latest 13F filing that it holds about $131 million in BlackRock’s IBIT ETF. Barclays is the 15th highest holder of the IBIT ETF, with a larger portfolio size than the likes of the Bank of Montreal and the State of Wisconsin Investment Board. 

Historically, traditional financial institutions viewed Bitcoin and the crypto industry in general with skepticism, citing its volatility and regulatory obscurity as hurdles. However, Barclays’ decision to invest in IBIT’s Bitcoin ETF reflects the growing acceptance of digital assets in the global finance sector. Earlier this week, Robinhood also mentioned the role of stablecoins in its payment settlements business, while rounding out a historically great year for the fintech startup. 

The US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024 was a pivotal moment in crypto. It facilitated the integration of cryptocurrencies into mainstream finance. It created the foundation for regulated, secure, and compliant mediums like Blackrock’s IBIT.

BlackRock’s IBIT is one of the most successful ETFs; it surpassed BlackRock’s iShares Gold Trust in net assets. It was also the fastest ETF to reach $10 billion in assets under management (AUM).

Traditional finance pivoting to crypto and digital assets

Barclays’ recent investment in digital assets adds to a growing list of established financial institutions that have ventured into the digital assets space. About 725 institutional investors are invested in the IBIT ETF, including Goldman Sachs, which has over $1.2 billion in assets, and Millennium Management, with $848 million in assets.

Charles Schwab, created a new executive position, Head of Digital Assets, as the financial services company moves toward crypto opportunities. Klarna Bank, a Swedish fintech company, also announced on February 13, 2025, that it will consider crypto in order to provide additional financial services to its customers. 

Fidelity Investments announced that it intends to add Bitcoin as an investment vehicle in its 401(K) plans in 2022. The program allows customers to invest some of their savings in Bitcoin. It’s the first huge 401(k) provider to invest in cryptocurrency.

BlackRock’s ETF is one of the top-performing ETFs, being the fastest to reach $10 billion AUM. 

Cryptopolitan Academy: FREE Web3 Resume Cheat Sheet - Download Now