"BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, is reportedly planning to launch the iShares Bitcoin ETF (ASX: IBIT) on the Australian Securities Exchange, extending its global Bitcoin investment strategy to the Asia-Pacific region. Expected to debut in mid-November 2025, IBIT will give Australian investors regulated exposure to Bitcoin through a traditional stock exchange structure, removing the need for offshore accounts or direct crypto custody."
"The Australian listing places the country alongside major jurisdictions such as the United States, Germany, and Switzerland where Bitcoin ETFs are already active. The move also reflects growing institutional demand for Bitcoin across the Asia-Pacific region as more investors seek regulated access to the asset. The announcement follows the Australian Securities and Investments Commission's updated guidance reclassifying most digital assets as financial products, requiring service providers to obtain an Australian Financial Services Licence by June 2026."
"While Bitcoin itself is not a financial product, funds and platforms offering Bitcoin exposure will operate under this regulatory framework, providing additional investor protection and market transparency. In other words, a Bitcoin ETP or ETF lets investors gain exposure to Bitcoin without actually buying or storing the cryptocurrency themselves. Instead, the fund holds Bitcoin (or Bitcoin-related contracts) while investors simply buy shares on a stock exchange, with the share price moving alongside Bitcoin's market value."
BlackRock intends to list the iShares Bitcoin ETF (ASX: IBIT) on the Australian Securities Exchange, expected to debut in mid-November 2025 and charge a 0.39% management fee. The ETF will wrap the U.S.-listed iShares Bitcoin Trust and let Australian investors gain regulated exposure to Bitcoin through a traditional exchange structure without offshore accounts or direct custody. The listing aligns Australia with other Bitcoin ETF jurisdictions and reflects rising institutional demand across the Asia-Pacific region. Updated ASIC guidance will require service providers to obtain an Australian Financial Services Licence by June 2026, bringing funds and platforms under a regulatory framework that enhances investor protection and transparency.
Read at Bitcoin Magazine
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