Emre Yumlu 
BlackRock stands out as one of the biggest players in the financial world. As a global leader in investment management and technology solutions, this giant aims to enhance the financial well-being of millions. Founded in 1988, BlackRock is currently the world’s largest asset manager, overseeing $12.5 trillion in assets as of 2025. So, what exactly is BlackRock, what services does it offer, and why has it recently turned to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin? In this article, we will explore BlackRock’s story, mission, and its role in the crypto world in detail.
What is BlackRock?
BlackRock was founded in 1988 in New York by a team of eight, led by Larry Fink. Starting in a single room, this venture set out with a vision to manage assets by prioritizing clients’ needs and interests. The founders, driven by a passion for risk management, aimed to create a better investment model for their clients. This approach kept BlackRock resilient even during tough times like the 2008 financial crisis.
Today, BlackRock operates in 30 countries with 70 offices and serves clients in 100 countries. With over 21,000 employees from diverse backgrounds speaking more than 100 languages, it combines global scale with local expertise. As of 2025, managing $12.5 trillion in assets, BlackRock is not just a company but a titan of the financial world.
BlackRock’s Purpose and Principles
The question “What is BlackRock?” leads to its core mission: to help more people experience financial well-being. The company aims to support millions by managing their savings throughout their lives. To achieve this vision, BlackRock focuses on three key principles:
- More Options: As a fiduciary, it prioritizes clients’ needs and offers high-quality options to diversify their investments. For instance, low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide a wide range of investment choices.
- Easy Access: It provides simple and cost-effective solutions to access global financial markets, eliminating complex processes to make investing easier for users.
- Comprehensive Platform: With advanced technology and global expertise, it manages investment risks and opportunities in an ever-changing world. Tools like the Aladdin software play a significant role in this process.
With these principles, BlackRock aims to make the investment world more accessible and user-friendly. As noted in Larry Fink’s 2025 Letter to Investors, the company seeks to reshape retirement systems and expand access to capital markets to build a more prosperous future.
What Services Does BlackRock Offer?
BlackRock offers a wide range of services in the financial sector. Here are the key offerings:
- iShares ETFs: Through its iShares brand, BlackRock provides exchange-traded funds that track stock, bond, and commodity indices. These funds are popular among individual and institutional investors. Alongside Vanguard and State Street, BlackRock is one of the world’s top three ETF managers.
- Institutional Asset Management: It manages trillions of dollars for pension funds, corporations, and governments.
- Aladdin Technology Platform: A software that tracks portfolios for financial institutions, offering risk analysis, portfolio optimization, and data management.
- Risk Management (BlackRock Solutions): This division analyzes financial risks, providing critical support to institutions, especially during crises.
- ESG Investments: BlackRock offers funds focused on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. However, these policies have sparked controversy in some U.S. states (West Virginia, Florida, Louisiana), leading to divestment decisions.
BlackRock ranked 229th on the Fortune 500 list in 2023, placing it among the largest U.S. companies by revenue. However, its ESG policies and investments in China have occasionally drawn criticism.
BlackRock’s Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Investments
In recent years, BlackRock has made a strong entry into the cryptocurrency space. In 2024, with the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S., BlackRock launched the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). This ETF directly holds Bitcoin, allowing investors to gain exposure without dealing with technical complexities like wallet management. As of 2025, IBIT manages $57 billion in assets, making it one of the fastest-growing ETFs in history. BlackRock’s total holding of 577,919K BTC (approximately $54 billion) accounts for 3% of Bitcoin’s total supply.
BlackRock’s crypto efforts extend beyond this. It has integrated its Aladdin platform for crypto portfolio management and is planning Bitcoin ETFs in Europe, particularly in Switzerland. Additionally, BlackRock holds a 5% stake (11.2 million shares) in companies like MicroStrategy, which heavily invests in Bitcoin, indirectly supporting the crypto ecosystem. BlackRock’s CIO highlights Bitcoin as a diversification tool, akin to gold, in its 2025 portfolio recommendations.
These moves signal the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies in the institutional world. However, the volatility of crypto markets and regulatory uncertainties bring risks. BlackRock’s involvement is seen as a pivotal step in bringing crypto from a niche market to the mainstream.
BlackRock’s Global Impact and Future
BlackRock operates in over 38 countries with more than 100 offices. With a diverse team speaking over 100 languages, it combines global scale with local expertise. It also stands out with its focus on corporate sustainability, investment stewardship, and community initiatives, such as creating economic opportunities with partner companies and encouraging employees to drive social change.
Looking ahead, BlackRock is expected to continue shaping the financial world with its crypto investments and technology-driven solutions. While its ESG policies remain controversial, its innovation and accessibility-focused approach keep it a leader in the industry.
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