BlackRock’s Ether ETF Joins Elite Ranks as One of Fastest-Growing Funds

BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum ETF (ETHA) has rapidly become one of the world’s fastest-growing exchange-traded funds, hitting the $10 billion mark in assets under management (AUM) in just 251 days. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas shared the news on Thursday, describing ETHA’s meteoric rise as the “equivalent of a God candle,” referring to the speed and magnitude of the inflow. ETHA now sits among the top three fastest-growing ETFs ever, a distinction it shares exclusively with other spot cryptocurrency funds. Crypto ETFs Dominate Speed Rankings The achievement puts ETHA ahead of many traditional ETFs, including JPMorgan’s Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ), which needed 444 days to reach $10 billion. Balchunas’ data shows that ETHA’s success underscores the growing appetite for crypto-backed financial products. The Ethereum-based ETF now trails only BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) in the race to $10 billion in AUM. These three are the only ETFs to reach that benchmark faster than any other in history. Industry Leaders Applaud Rapid Growth Nate Geraci, president of NovaDius Wealth Management, pointed out the broader implications of this milestone. “We’re talking about an ETF industry that’s been around for over 3 decades and has nearly 4,400 products,” Geraci commented on X. He noted that the top three fastest-growing ETFs are now all crypto-focused, something previously unimaginable in traditional finance circles. Bitcoin ETFs Still in the Lead Despite ETHA’s impressive pace, it still lags behind BlackRock’s IBIT, which reached the $10 billion mark in just 34 days following its launch in January 2024. Fidelity’s FBTC was close behind, hitting the same milestone in just 54 days. These two products set a blistering pace for ETHA to follow, highlighting the enormous interest in crypto ETFs since regulators opened the door to spot crypto-based funds. Ether Inflows Surge as Bitcoin ETFs Cool Off Investor sentiment appears to be shifting toward Ether in recent weeks. According to SoSoValue, U.S.-listed Ether ETFs have recorded a 14-day inflow streak totaling $4.4 billion since July 3. This surge includes a massive $726.7 million daily inflow, the largest single-day amount since the ETF’s launch last year. Conversely, Bitcoin ETFs have shown signs of weakness. After enjoying a 12-day inflow streak, they turned negative on July 21. Over the next three trading days, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw outflows of $289 million, based on SoSoValue’s data. BlackRock Cementing Its Position in Crypto ETFs BlackRock’s dominance in the ETF landscape, both in traditional and digital assets, continues to grow. The firm’s success with both ETHA and IBIT reflects rising investor interest in regulated crypto exposure through mainstream investment vehicles. ETHA’s historic climb reaffirms the significance of Ethereum’s place in institutional portfolios and positions the fund as a long-term staple for those betting on the future of blockchain technologies.