BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has launched its first Bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP) on the SIX Swiss Exchange, under the ticker IB1T. This is iShares’ first digital asset ETP in Switzerland and shows the growing interest from institutional investors in bitcoin.

iShares is the 20th issuer of digital-asset-linked ETPs on Switzerland’s main stock exchange. The new product brings the total number of digital asset products listed on SIX to 487.

The iShares Bitcoin ETP has now started trading on SIX Swiss Exchange, following its initial debut on Euronext Amsterdam, Euronext Paris, and Xetra in March 2025.

BlackRock Bitcoin ETP listings in Europe — iShares

The iShares Bitcoin ETP is designed to make it easier for investors—especially institutions—to get exposure to bitcoin in a familiar format.

Each security is backed by a specific amount of bitcoin, held in cold storage by Coinbase Custody International Limited, a regulated custodian. The product trades in Swiss francs and is supported by leading market makers to ensure liquidity and pricing.

Omar Moufti, Crypto Product Strategist at iShares, stated:

“We believe ETPs have an important role to play to build a bridge between crypto and traditional finance through their efficiency and convenience. Alongside the easy and regulated access, the iShares Bitcoin ETP is designed to offer institutional investors a stable and reliable way to gain exposure to Bitcoin.”

The emphasis is on security and structure. By using the same regulated framework as traditional exchange-traded funds (ETFs), BlackRock is giving European institutions the confidence to hold bitcoin without having to deal with wallets or private keys.

Although the iShares Bitcoin ETP is already listed on Xetra, Euronext Paris and Euronext Amsterdam, its listing on SIX Swiss Exchange is significant.

Switzerland has positioned itself as a hub for digital assets, and according to Dirk Klee, CEO of BlackRock Switzerland, the Swiss team was heavily involved in the product.

“There is a lot of Switzerland in the iShares Bitcoin ETP,” Klee said. “We at BlackRock Switzerland were significantly involved in its development. We are convinced that ETPs can play an important role in building a bridge between crypto and the traditional financial world.”

The timing of the launch comes as digital-asset-related ETP trading on SIX continues to rise.

In the first seven months of 2025, the 194 digital asset ETPs listed on the exchange generated CHF 2.3 billion in turnover across 116,000 trades. That’s 44.5% more than the same period in 2024.

Bitcoin is the most traded digital asset product on SIX, with 36.1% of the volume so far this year.

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Filed under: Altcoins - @ August 17, 2025 11:18 am