BlackRock As the Largest Asset in the World Sets Crypto and Tokenization as the Key to Growth in 2026

BlackRock, the world’s largest investment management giant managing over $10 trillion, has identified crypto and tokenization as two strategic pillars shaping the investment landscape by 2026. The company places these sectors in its 2026 Thematic Outlook report as transformational forces that have a tangible impact on how investors access and manage their portfolios.

BlackRock Strategy: Why the World’s Largest Asset Focuses on Digital

The team led by Jay Jacobs, head of the U.S. stock traded fund, explicitly includes the digital ecosystem in the list of themes that are “driving markets in unprecedented ways.” This strategic move by the world’s largest asset manager reflects a fundamental shift in how financial institutions view blockchain technology and digital assets.

While artificial intelligence and energy infrastructure are primary focuses of the report, the acknowledgment of crypto indicates something deeper: BlackRock no longer sees digital assets as speculative instruments but as integral components of modern diversification strategies. Bitcoin and ether are not just mentioned in the report—they are contextualized alongside stablecoins as part of a rapidly growing ecosystem.

iShares Bitcoin Trust: Concrete Evidence of Investor Demand

BlackRock’s revolutionary product, the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), serves as concrete proof of this investment thesis. Since its launch in January 2024, IBIT has become the fastest-growing exchange-traded product in industry history. The fund’s net assets have now surpassed $70 billion, reflecting institutional investor enthusiasm for structured and secure bitcoin exposure.

Bitcoin’s current price stands at $78,950, while ether hovers around $2,450. IBIT’s phenomenal growth is not just about numbers—it’s a market statement that institutional crypto investment has reached a critical point. As the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock has validated what was previously considered niche into mainstream.

Tokenization: Changing How We Access Traditional Assets

BlackRock’s 2026 Outlook report also highlights tokenization as a theme driving the transformation of global financial infrastructure. Tokenization is not just about moving traditional assets onto the blockchain—it’s about modernizing access to property, equities, and other financial instruments through decentralized networks.

Stablecoins, especially those backed by the US dollar, serve as early examples of this revolution. However, BlackRock identifies tokenization as a broader trend, where digital representations of real-world assets will change how funds are allocated and managed.

Ethereum: Main Beneficiary of the Tokenization Wave

In analyzing the tokenization landscape, the report specifically highlights the Ethereum blockchain as the primary infrastructure set to benefit from this growth. Data shows that over 65% of all tokenized assets currently operate on Ethereum, reflecting its dominant position within the decentralized application ecosystem.

BlackRock understands that Ethereum is not just a network for transactions—it’s a platform enabling innovation in traditional asset tokenization. With mature infrastructure and a strong developer ecosystem, Ethereum positions itself as the backbone of the upcoming token economy.

Broader Context: Blockchain as a Mega-Force of Transformation

The inclusion of crypto assets and tokenization by the world’s largest asset manager signals something significant: BlackRock views blockchain technology as one of several “mega forces” that will define the next decade of investment. These forces include rising demand for compute power driven by AI, geopolitical shifts in defense spending, and global energy infrastructure development.

What shifts the perspective is that BlackRock no longer considers blockchain as a separate sector—it is integrated into a larger narrative of economic transformation. Price volatility and regulatory challenges remain, but the strategic report from the world’s largest asset manager shows confidence that the potential of this technology to modernize financial infrastructure far exceeds short-term uncertainties.

Implications for the Crypto Market and Investors

The message from BlackRock is clear: blockchain technology is increasingly approaching mainstream institutional investment. For the crypto community, validation from the world’s largest asset manager is recognition that their vision of a digital financial future is becoming reality. It’s no longer about speculation—it’s about fundamentals, adoption, and integration into a larger global investment ecosystem.