BlackRock reallocated capital between its cryptocurrency funds on September 12, 2025. The asset manager reduced exposure to ETH while adding to its BTC position.
This rotation signaled renewed institutional preference for Bitcoin over Ethereum.
The move reinforced the trend that major investors continued to view Bitcoin as the most reliable benchmark asset in the digital space.
Bitcoin Price Inflows Outpaced Ethereum Withdrawals
Arkham Intelligence and SoSoValue data showed that BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) attracted about $366 Million in net inflows.
Meanwhile, its iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) saw roughly $17 Million exit. Fidelity’s FBTC fund also gained around $135 Million.
Bitwise’s BITB added about $40 Million. Other funds saw smaller shifts. BlackRock’s ETHA was the only major product with heavy withdrawals.
Arkham’s wallet tracking confirmed BlackRock cut ETH balances and increased BTC holdings. Institutions appeared to prefer Bitcoin as their main reserve token.
Bitcoin Price Benefited From Consistent ETF Support
The Bitcoin price was trading near $116,000 at press time. It rose about 0.5% over 24 hours and almost 5% over the past week.
Year-to-date, BTC had gained some 24%; over the past year, it rose over 100%.
These figures reflected consistent ETF inflows. Institutional allocations supported steady growth in BTC, even during broader market volatility.
The data pointed to Bitcoin’s sustained role as a hedge against inflation and macroeconomic risk.
Ethereum also posted gains. The ETH price reached near $4,600, with daily growth around 4% and weekly gains near 8%. Six-month returns exceeded 130%. One-year returns approached 100%.
Despite those gains, institutional flows favored BTC. Experts said strong performance did not offset concerns over regulatory clarity and reserve utility in deciding allocations.
Ethereum Gains Trailed Institutional Demand Shifts
Ethereum’s performance highlighted its strong fundamentals. The token remained dominant in decentralized finance, non-fungible tokens, and smart contract activity.
However, institutional investors still favored Bitcoin when adjusting reserve strategies. The difference partly reflected regulatory and market positioning.
BTC carried clearer approval through ETFs, making allocations simpler for funds. Ethereum’s use cases also carried greater volatility and policy uncertainty.
BlackRock’s consistent trimming of ETHA holdings illustrated this divide. The world’s largest asset manager favored Bitcoin when scaling digital exposure.
The move reinforced a broader market signal: institutions treated Bitcoin as the safer core allocation, with Ethereum viewed as a secondary growth asset.
Outlook for Institutional Allocations in 2025
BlackRock’s September flows showed how large asset managers could influence the market. Even small reallocations signaled shifts in institutional strategy.
Bitcoin remained the preferred choice for long-term reserves, while Ethereum’s role was tied more to adoption trends in decentralized applications.
Analysts said the rotation could continue if macroeconomic uncertainty persisted. Bitcoin’s capped supply and liquidity profile suited institutional demand for stability.
Ethereum’s growth potential remained strong, but it required regulatory clarity and scaling upgrades to attract more institutional inflows.
The contrast between BTC and ETH allocations demonstrated how institutions balanced safety and innovation.
Bitcoin served as the base digital reserve. Ethereum, despite its sharp gains, was treated with more caution.
At press time, flows and price data confirmed this pattern. The September 12 reallocation positioned Bitcoin as the leading institutional asset heading into the final quarter of 2025.