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BlackRock Australia has announced its intent to launch the iShares Bitcoin ETF (ASX: IBIT), reinforcing its commitment to providing Australian investors with greater choice and easier access to cryptocurrency exposure in the local market.

IBIT is expected to be quoted on the ASX in mid-November 2025.

With a management fee of 0.39%, the fund wraps the US-listed iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ: IBIT), offering local investors a simple, cost-effective, and regulated way to access bitcoin without the technical and operational complexities of holding the asset directly.

Tamara Stats, Director of Institutional Client Business, BlackRock Australasia, said, “The introduction of IBIT in Australia highlights BlackRock’s ongoing efforts to innovate and reflects the growing interest from institutional investors seeking efficient, convenient access to bitcoin as a potential diversifier within their multi-asset portfolios.”

Steve Ead, Head of Global Product Solutions, BlackRock Australasia, said, “IBIT offers Australian investors a familiar ETF wrapper to access bitcoin, drawing on BlackRock’s global scale and infrastructure. By making IBIT available on the ASX, we’re focused on broadening access and democratising investment opportunities for more Australians.”

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BlackRock Australia has announced its intent to launch the iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (AUD Hedged) (ASX: ULTB) with a management fee of 0.15%. This latest addition extends the local iShares fixed income range, offering Australian advisers and investors more precise fixed income investment options for their portfolio.

The iShares 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (AUD Hedged) (ASX: ULTB) aims to provide Australian advisers and investors with targeted exposure to long-end U.S. Treasury bonds. Australian investors may consider ULTB for portfolio diversification, as adding duration can provide defence against potential market volatility and during periods of slowing growth. Benchmarked to the ICE US Treasury 20+Year Bond AUD Hedged index, ULTB represents the longest duration exposure available within the locally listed iShares product range.

ULTB is expected to list on the ASX in early September.

James Waterworth, Director, Wealth Distribution, BlackRock Australasia said, “We have added ULTB to our local iShares product range, responding to Australian advisers and investor demand for more choice when it comes to precise fixed income exposures.

“Bond yields globally are at decade-highs, and if inflation indicators continue to fall, central banks may proceed to cut official cash rates. We believe investors have a window of opportunity to move out of cash and into fixed income exposures to lock in these higher yields, because the market has tended to price in changes to cash rates well before they occur.

“This could be achieved by long-end bond exposures like ULTB, which enable Australian investors to add duration in a simple and low-cost way. Alongside our Australian long duration government bond exposure ALTB, we now offer investors one of the broadest ranges of Australian-listed fixed income and cash ETFs available to build a well-diversified fixed income allocation in their portfolios.”

Tamara Stats, iShares and Index Investments Specialist, BlackRock Australasia said, “BlackRock is pleased to now offer access to long-end U.S. Treasury bond exposures, like ULTB, to Australian portfolio builders and investors, bringing one of its flagship exposures to the Australian market.

“U.S. Treasury bonds are considered one of the highest quality assets due to their low level of default risk, offering defensive benefits to the broader portfolio. The historic inverse relationship between stocks and bonds has been challenged in recent years. As inflation starts to return to target, we may see the historic correlation restored. Therefore, ULTB could be a very useful tool for portfolio diversification.

“Hedged to the Australian dollar, ULTB also offers Australian investors an additional layer of stability without having to weather the ups and downs of foreign exchange risk.”

ULTB is the latest addition to BlackRock’s iShares fixed income ETF offering, which represents one of the broadest ranges of fixed income and cash ETFs in Australia. The range provides investors with low-cost index solutions for income generation, capital preservation, or portfolio diversification.

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GLDN will be available on the ASX soon.

iShares Physical Gold ETF (ASX: GLDN) will offer Australian investors the opportunity to gain exposure to physical gold through the ETF structure. Investors generally seek to invest in gold as a diversifier in multi-asset portfolios and as a potential hedge against inflation.

Chantal Giles, Head of Wealth, BlackRock Australasia said, “Our intent to launch GLDN reflects our commitment to lead the market in providing Australian advisers and investors with lower-cost investment solutions, together with a range of core index building blocks and other portfolio offerings.

“Gold has had a long history of remaining resilient during multiple business cycles and volatile market events which has underpinned the appeal of the commodity over time. GLDN aims to make it easier and simpler for advisers and investors to gain exposure to physical gold via a low-cost structure.”

Tamara Stats, iShares ETF and Index Investments Specialist, BlackRock Australasia said, “When facing into periods of market uncertainty, investors have turned to assets such as gold which has served as a diversifier to traditional investments such as equities and bonds. Global events this year have meant that the prevailing investment narrative has shifted which has brought gold back to the front of investors’ minds.

“We are pleased to be able to offer Australian advisers and investors the opportunity to gain exposure to gold on the exchange.”

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