BlackRock Acquires $2B in Bitcoin and $961M in Ethereum in Eight Days

BlackRock has recently completed a substantial buying spree, acquiring 27,722 Bitcoin and 385,633 Ethereum over an eight-day period. This acquisition represents approximately $2 billion in Bitcoin and $961 million in Ethereum, as tracked by on-chain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence.

This aggressive investment strategy has contributed to a remarkable increase in BlackRock's digital asset portfolio, which surged from $53.36 billion to $68.48 billion by late August 2026. This $15.11 billion increase in assets under management (AUM) was driven by a combination of new capital inflows and rising asset prices.

Specifically, BlackRock's flagship Bitcoin ETF, IBIT, recorded around $1.33 billion in net inflows over a five-day period in mid-August. Meanwhile, its Ethereum ETFs, ETHA and ETHB, attracted approximately $537 million during the same timeframe. Notably, a particularly intense 48-hour period around August 21 saw BlackRock-affiliated wallets absorb 11,098 BTC and 132,769 ETH, valued at about $1 billion.

Coinbase Prime continues to serve as the primary custodian for these ETF holdings, facilitating significant transfers between BlackRock-affiliated wallets and custodian accounts. This logistical operation is essential given the volume of assets flowing into the funds.

BlackRock's acquisition of 27,722 BTC in just eight days indicates that the ETF is absorbing more Bitcoin than is produced daily through mining, highlighting the competitive landscape among various spot Bitcoin ETFs vying for the same limited asset. The $15.11 billion increase in BlackRock's crypto AUM during August underscores the impact of both new investments and the price dynamics driven by demand.