Bitcoin ETF Fever Spreads: BlackRock Targets Australian Market Next

[Ben Graham]

BlackRock will list an iShares Bitcoin ETF on the Australian Securities Exchange in mid-November 2025, according to public filings and market reports.

The product will be a local wrapper around BlackRock’s US iShares Bitcoin Trust — a vehicle that launched in January 2024 and now manages about $85 billion.

Based on reports, the new ASX ticker will charge a management fee of 0.39% per year.

BlackRock Brings IBIT To ASX

The move aims to give Australian investors an easier way to gain exposure to bitcoin through a familiar exchange-listed product.

Reports have disclosed that investors who buy the ASX ETF will not hold bitcoin in a private wallet; they will have exposure through the ETF’s structure.

That means price swings in bitcoin still apply. It also means custody and technical handling are managed by the fund rather than each investor.

What Investors Should Know

The fee of 0.39% is competitive when compared with many retail crypto services, but traders and long-term holders will want to check how closely the ETF tracks bitcoin’s price and what trading spreads look like on the ASX.

According to filings, the ASX listing will use the US trust as the underlying asset, which raises questions about cross-market flows and the mechanics of how units are created and cancelled.

Liquidity on the local exchange, and how market makers support the product, will shape how cheaply investors can enter and exit positions.

Market Implications For Australia

BlackRock’s entry could prompt other asset managers to list similar products in Australia. Based on reports, the launch follows a wave of spot bitcoin ETF approvals and listings in other markets since early 2024.

For retail investors who avoided direct crypto custody, an ETF on the ASX removes some of the operational hurdles. But it does not remove market risk: bitcoin’s price can move sharply.

Regulators in Australia have already been refining rules around crypto products, and the presence of a major global manager will put those rules under closer scrutiny.

Competition And Risks

Smaller providers offering bitcoin exposure through different structures may face tougher competition on fees and access.

Reports have also highlighted potential downsides: an ETF wrapper can add a layer of cost and complexity, and investors may misunderstand the difference between owning the underlying asset and owning ETF units.

Custody arrangements, insurance, and how the trust sources and stores bitcoin are items that advisers and sophisticated buyers will examine.

According to market watchers, the timing — mid-November 2025 — matters. Investor appetite, bitcoin’s price action and broader market sentiment around that time will affect how much money flows into the new ETF.

For many Australians, this will be a new, regulated route into bitcoin exposure. For the market, it is another step toward mainstream channels where big asset managers compete for crypto assets on familiar ground.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView