BlackRock Canada has launched the iShares Equity + Bitcoin ETF Portfolio (IBQT), which began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on August 10. According to reports from Cointelegraph, the fund targets a strategic allocation of 97% equities and 3% Bitcoin, combining global stock exposure with cryptocurrency investment through one TSX-listed product. The fund invests mainly in other iShares ETFs rather than buying individual shares or holding Bitcoin directly, with its Bitcoin exposure coming through BlackRock's Canadian iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT), which began trading on Cboe Canada in January 2025. This structure allows investors to gain indirect exposure to Bitcoin's price movements without directly holding the cryptocurrency, which may appeal to those seeking a regulated and familiar investment vehicle.
IBQT carries an annual management fee of 0.22%, including fees charged by its underlying ETFs. As reported by BlackRock, the fund covers Canadian, U.S., international and emerging markets through its stock exposure. Additionally, BlackRock Canada introduced the iShares Core MSCI All-International Equity Index ETF (XINT), which tracks the MSCI ACWI ex North America IMI Index covering more than 5,000 companies across over 40 developed and emerging markets. XINT carries an annual management fee of 0.23% and excludes Canada and the United States, making it a potential building block for Canadian investors seeking broader international exposure. Both funds are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada through the RBC iShares alliance.
According to BlackRock, the fund's Bitcoin exposure represents only 3% of the target portfolio, meaning performance will remain primarily tied to global equity markets. The launch extends BlackRock's move beyond standalone spot Bitcoin ETFs toward funds combining crypto exposure with traditional investment strategies. In June, BlackRock launched its Bitcoin income ETF BITA in the United States, which invests mainly in BlackRock's U.S.-listed iShares Bitcoin Trust and sells covered call options to generate monthly income. The conservative 3% allocation reflects a measured approach to Bitcoin's volatility, potentially suitable for investors who want modest crypto exposure while maintaining a diversified equity portfolio. IBQT's small, fixed allocation limits how much Bitcoin's price swings can move the overall portfolio, though changes in Bitcoin's value could still nudge the crypto share above or below 3% between fund rebalancing periods.
BlackRock's U.S.-listed iShares Bitcoin Trust remains the largest American spot Bitcoin ETF by assets, providing a comparison for the asset manager's more limited Canadian allocation strategy. As reported by BlackRock, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted approximately $853.5 million over five consecutive sessions from August 3 through August 7. BlackRock's IBIT accounted for an estimated $693 million, representing roughly 81% of the total inflows during this period. The product's 3% target also limits Bitcoin's influence compared with a spot ETF while allowing investors to maintain exposure if the asset rises. This dominance underlines just how central BlackRock has become to institutional Bitcoin demand in the U.S., even as its Canadian arm takes a far more measured approach.
