BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager controlling $14 trillion in assets, has identified cryptocurrency and tokenized assets as key market drivers in its 2026 outlook.
The firm is no longer treating digital assets as speculative investments, but as essential financial infrastructure that will reshape how money moves globally.
Digital Assets Become Financial Plumbing
In its 2026 Thematic Outlook, BlackRock positions cryptocurrencies alongside artificial intelligence and geopolitics as transformative forces. The company specifically highlights Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins as integral to broader market changes.
BlackRock’s approach marks a significant shift from viewing crypto as a trading asset to recognizing it as infrastructure for payments, settlement, and liquidity management. The firm argues that digital assets are most valuable “beneath the surface” where they interact with traditional finance systems.
“Stablecoins are no longer niche, they’re becoming the bridge between traditional finance and digital liquidity,” said Samara Cohen, BlackRock’s Global Head of Market Development, in the company’s market outlook.
Stablecoins Transform Into Payment Rails
The most striking element of BlackRock’s 2026 vision involves stablecoins—digital tokens pegged to assets like the U.S. dollar. These tokens have evolved from crypto trading tools into payment and settlement infrastructure used for cross-border transfers and treasury management.
The stablecoin market reached approximately $307 billion in early 2026, with projections suggesting growth to $500 billion or more by 2028. BlackRock describes stablecoins as “digital dollar rails” that enable near-instant settlement, operate 24/7, and dramatically reduce transaction costs compared to traditional banking systems.
Source: ishares
Regulatory clarity is accelerating this transformation. The GENIUS Act, signed into law in July 2025, created the first federal framework for payment stablecoins in the United States. The law requires 100% reserve backing and establishes audit requirements, with implementing regulations expected by July 2026.
BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF Shatters Records
The company’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) became the fastest-growing ETF in history, surpassing $70 billion in assets within just 341 trading days of its January 2024 launch.
To put this in perspective, the previous record holder—SPDR Gold Shares—took 1,691 days to reach the same milestone. IBIT’s rapid growth demonstrates massive institutional demand for Bitcoin exposure through traditional investment vehicles.
The ETF currently holds approximately 784,000 bitcoins and accounts for roughly 70% of Bitcoin ETF trading volume. This success has made IBIT one of BlackRock’s top revenue sources and signals that institutions view Bitcoin as a long-term portfolio holding rather than a speculative trade.
Tokenization: The Next Generation of Finance
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has consistently described tokenization as “the next generation of financial markets.” Tokenization means creating digital representations of assets like stocks, bonds, or real estate on blockchain networks, enabling faster trading and settlement.
BlackRock practices what it preaches through its BUIDL fund—the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund. Launched in March 2024, BUIDL surpassed $2 billion in assets by late 2025, making it the largest tokenized money market fund globally.
The fund invests in U.S. Treasury bills and cash equivalents, distributing approximately $100 million in dividends since launch. It operates across multiple blockchain networks including Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon, and is accepted as collateral on major cryptocurrency exchanges like Binance.
BUIDL represents nearly half of the global tokenized U.S. Treasury market and demonstrates how traditional financial products can operate on blockchain infrastructure with benefits like instant settlement and 24/7 trading.
Economic Pressures Drive Crypto Adoption
BlackRock’s bullish crypto stance stems from concerns about the traditional financial system. The firm’s 2026 outlook warns that U.S. federal debt will exceed $38 trillion, creating vulnerabilities to bond yield spikes and fiscal concerns.
The company argues that traditional hedges like long-term Treasury bonds are becoming less effective given persistent leverage and inflation risks. This environment pushes institutions toward alternative assets, with cryptocurrencies positioned as non-sovereign stores of value that operate outside traditional financial constraints.
“Where government debt fails, the digital economy begins,” BlackRock’s report states, suggesting that economic fragility will accelerate institutional crypto adoption.
The firm specifically notes that Bitcoin and tokenized assets could serve as more potent hedges than conventional portfolio diversifiers. With U.S. debt concerns mounting and traditional safe havens losing effectiveness, digital assets offer institutional investors new options for managing risk.
Ethereum Emerges as Settlement Foundation
BlackRock’s research highlights Ethereum’s role in the tokenization ecosystem. The blockchain hosts approximately $12.5 billion in tokenized real-world assets, representing roughly 65% of the distributed market as of January 2026.
Ethereum functions as a settlement layer where transactions achieve final confirmation, even as faster networks handle day-to-day execution. This “base layer” role becomes more valuable as the amount of tokenized assets grows, positioning Ethereum as foundational infrastructure for digital finance.
The broader institutional landscape supports BlackRock’s vision. JPMorgan launched its own tokenized money market fund in December 2025, while Circle—the issuer of USDC stablecoin—completed a $1 billion IPO that same year. Major payment networks like Visa have begun integrating stablecoin settlement into their systems.
BlackRock hired seven senior professionals for its digital asset division in December 2025, signaling deeper commitment to scaling existing products and developing new ones. The company’s strategy combines Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs with tokenized funds and increasing involvement in stablecoin infrastructure.
The Bottom Line
BlackRock’s 2026 outlook transforms how Wall Street views cryptocurrency—not as speculation, but as the financial system’s next infrastructure layer. With the world’s largest asset manager backing digital assets through record-breaking ETFs, multi-billion dollar tokenized funds, and public support for stablecoins, institutional crypto adoption has moved from possibility to reality. The convergence of regulatory clarity, technological maturity, and economic pressure on traditional hedges positions digital assets for continued growth in the institutional investment landscape.