The anticipated approval of altcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) might not generate the significant inflows that investors predict, lacking participation from asset management leader BlackRock, according to market data.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF attracted $28.1 billion in investments in 2025, standing as the only fund with positive year-to-date (YTD) inflows, which pushed total spot Bitcoin ETF inflows to a cumulative $26.9 billion.
In the absence of BlackRock’s fund, spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced a cumulative net outflow of $1.27 billion year-to-date, according to K33’s research lead, Vetle Lunde.
The inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs were the key driver of Bitcoin (BTC) price momentum in 2025, as stated by Geoff Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s global head of digital assets research, in a recent interview with Cointelegraph.
BlackRock is the largest asset management firm globally, holding $13.5 trillion in assets under management as of Q3 2025.
Related: Arthur Hayes predicts $1M Bitcoin as Japan’s new PM initiates economic stimulus
BlackRock’s absence may deflate the altcoin ETF celebration
According to Lunde, BlackRock’s lack of involvement in the altcoin ETF surge could cap total inflows and their potential positive impact on the underlying cryptocurrencies.
“No BlackRock, no party,” Lunde stated on X. “BlackRock is not part of the upcoming altcoin ETF wave. This opens doors for competitors to attract strong inflows, but overall flows are likely to be limited.”
Related: Crypto treasuries drain $800B from altcoins, possibly ‘forever’
Despite the absence of the world’s largest asset manager, some analysts remain hopeful about the upcoming generation of ETFs.
Importantly, the first Solana (SOL) staking ETF might attract as much as $6 billion within its first year, according to Ryan Lee, chief analyst at Bitget exchange, in a discussion with Cointelegraph.
JPMorgan also forecasted that a Solana ETF could bring in $3 billion to $6 billion, while an XRP ETF might gain $4 billion to $8 billion in new investments, based on the uptake of Bitcoin and Ether ETFs.
Bitcoin ETFs had a 6% adoption rate, and Ether ETFs around 3% during their initial six months, meaning Bitcoin ETFs attracted about 6% of BTC’s total market capitalization in that timeframe.
Magazine: Bitcoin expected to see ‘one more big thrust’ to $150K, while ETH pressure increases
