Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) Mark One-Year Milestone: Trading Figures, Pacesetters, and Growing Usage

Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) Mark One-Year Milestone: Trading Figures, Pacesetters, and Growing Usage

In the world of finance, 2024 marked a significant milestone with the launch of several Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). One year later, these funds have proven to be a game-changer, amassing a combined Assets Under Management (AUM) of approximately $150 billion as of January 10, 2025.

The leading player in this market is BlackRock's IBIT ETF, which held an impressive $87.2 billion in AUM by mid-2025. Close behind are Fidelity's FBTC, Ark Invest’s ARKB, and Grayscale’s BTC-related products, each contributing substantial amounts to the total spot Bitcoin ETF AUM.

| ETF Provider | Approximate AUM (mid-2025) | |------------------|------------------------------| | BlackRock (IBIT) | $87.2 billion | | Fidelity (FBTC) | Tens of billions (exact figure not specified) | | Ark Invest (ARKB)| $6.0 billion | | Grayscale (BTC) | $5.3 billion |

The overall market cap of Bitcoin was around $2.36 trillion at this time, meaning these ETFs controlled about 6.49% of Bitcoin’s total market capitalization.

The first year for Bitcoin ETFs was nothing short of remarkable. Four of the Bitcoin ETFs (IBIT, FBTC, ARKB, and BITB) made it into the top 20 US ETF launches of all time, even when adjusted for inflation.

The approval of the first Bitcoin ETF granted the leading cryptocurrency a measure of "legitimacy" at a regulatory level, according to Bobby Zagotta, Head of the U.S. division at crypto exchange Bitstamp. Financial advisors also began to consider offering these products to their clients, as the 12-month mark is an important milestone for any ETF.

Since their launch, 12 ETF issuers have collectively accumulated 1.13 million BTC worth $106.6 billion. In December, the total AUM across all American Bitcoin ETFs surpassed similar products based on gold.

It's worth noting that IBIT from BlackRock surpassed Grayscale's GBTC, which initially held the segment leader position, by the end of May. Today, IBIT holds the top spot with $52.7 billion in AUM, while Fidelity's FBTC ranks second with $19.5 billion and GBTC has slipped to third place at $19.3 billion.

The popularity of IBIT is also felt in the options market, according to Greg Magadini, Director of Derivatives at Amberdata. Experts predict that investment advisors will boost their ETF positions in Bitcoin and Ethereum by over 50% in 2025, as suggested by CF Benchmarks.

However, significant investments may take six months to two years to materialize, according to Steven McClurg, CEO of Canary Capital. On January 11, the first U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) began trading, marking another step towards the mainstream adoption of Bitcoin.

[1]: Source for AUM figures and market cap data. [3]: Source for ranking of Bitcoin ETFs among top U.S. ETF launches. [4]: Source for total AUM figure for the top four Bitcoin ETFs.

In the world of finance, both Bitcoin and Ethereum have witnessed significant investing opportunities with the launch of a variety of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) focusing on these cryptocurrencies. By mid-2025, some of these Bitcoin ETFs, such as BlackRock's IBIT and Fidelity's FBTC, have amassed substantial assets under management (AUM), making investment in Bitcoin a more accessible and regulated avenue for finance.

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