BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, is reportedly planning to launch the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), extending its global Bitcoin investment strategy to the Asia-Pacific region. Expected to debut in mid-November 2025, IBIT will provide Australian investors with regulated exposure to Bitcoin through a traditional stock exchange structure, eliminating the need for offshore accounts or direct crypto custody.
The ETF will carry a management fee of 0.39% and will wrap the U.S.-listed iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ: IBIT), which has become one of the most successful ETF launches in history since its January 2024 debut. This Australian listing places the country alongside major jurisdictions such as the United States, Germany, and Switzerland, where Bitcoin ETFs are already active.
This move reflects growing institutional demand for Bitcoin across the Asia-Pacific region, as more investors seek regulated access to the asset.
### Australia’s Embrace of Crypto
The announcement follows the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s (ASIC) updated guidance reclassifying most digital assets as financial products. This requires service providers to obtain an Australian Financial Services Licence by June 2026.
While Bitcoin itself is not classified as a financial product, funds and platforms offering Bitcoin exposure will operate under this regulatory framework, providing additional investor protection and market transparency.
In simple terms, a Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Product (ETP) or Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) allows investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without actually buying or storing the cryptocurrency themselves. Instead, the fund holds Bitcoin (or Bitcoin-related contracts), and investors buy shares on a stock exchange. The share price moves alongside Bitcoin’s market value, offering a convenient and easy way to invest in Bitcoin.
### Market Context and Global Expansion
This announcement comes as Bitcoin trades down from record highs around $104,000, supported by rising inflows into global ETFs and accelerating institutional adoption.
Earlier last month, BlackRock officially listed its iShares Bitcoin ETP (IB1T) on the London Stock Exchange following the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) decision to relax rules on crypto investment products. The physically backed fund allows retail investors to gain Bitcoin exposure without directly holding the asset, with custody managed by Coinbase.
Similar to the upcoming Australian launch, the London listing was seen as timely amid rising UK crypto adoption, offering a regulated and accessible entry point for investors.
### Other Bitcoin ETFs in Australia
Last June, Monochrome Asset Management announced their Bitcoin ETF (IBTC) in Australia. The ETF traded under the ticker IBTC and carried a management fee of 0.98%.
With BlackRock’s entry into the Australian market, investors will have more options to access Bitcoin through regulated, exchange-traded products, marking a significant step in the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrency in the Asia-Pacific region.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/bitcoin/australia-soon-to-gain-access-to-blackrock-bitcoin-etf/
