출처: Block Media
BlackRock Accelerates Blockchain Tokenization of ETFs After Bitcoin ETF Success
BlackRock, the world’s leading asset management firm with over $9 trillion in assets under management, is making strides in blockchain integration by exploring the tokenization of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This follows the remarkable success of its iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT), which has become the largest Bitcoin-focused fund in the market. Tokenization—a process that links real-world assets to blockchain-based digital tokens—offers the potential to revolutionize how physical assets and equities can be bundled into ETFs.
According to a Bloomberg report, BlackRock is evaluating innovative ways to tokenize funds tied to physical assets, as well as ETFs that include equities, leveraging blockchain technology to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accessibility. This move aligns with BlackRock’s growing commitment to digital finance and builds upon its existing endeavors, such as its USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL). This blockchain-powered money-market fund, valued at over $2 billion, has already demonstrated the firm’s early foothold in the tokenized asset domain.
Wall Street’s Growing Embrace of Tokenization
BlackRock’s exploration of tokenized ETFs is part of a burgeoning movement across Wall Street, where institutional players are increasingly recognizing the transformative potential of blockchain technology. Galaxy Digital, a publicly traded crypto investment firm, recently garnered attention by becoming the first company to tokenize its common stock. Similarly, Nasdaq is actively pursuing a future involving tokenized securities and has even proposed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) the introduction of tokenized stock trading platforms.
This institutional pivot is supported by favorable regulatory momentum. The SEC has shown openness to tokenization initiatives through its ongoing "Project Crypto," which investigates integrating blockchain into U.S. financial market infrastructure. Beyond the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is exploring how tokenized asset platforms can operate continuously, aligning with the 24/7 trading model popular in cryptocurrency markets. Together, these developments signal a shift toward integrating traditional finance with blockchain-powered systems for efficiency and accessibility gains.
Larry Fink’s Vision for a Tokenized Financial Ecosystem
BlackRock’s exploration of blockchain tokenization has been heavily championed by Larry Fink, the firm's CEO. A longstanding advocate for blockchain innovation, Fink has frequently underscored the enormous potential of tokenization in enhancing capital markets. In a notable statement earlier this year, Fink urged the SEC to prioritize the tokenization of bonds and equities, emphasizing the cost-saving benefits and improved access to investment opportunities.
Fink argues that tokenization could eliminate intermediaries and reduce institutional overhead costs, ultimately reshaping the financial landscape by making investments more accessible, efficient, and inclusive. These views reflect BlackRock’s strategic pivot, which is predicated on the belief that blockchain will play a pivotal role in reducing friction within traditional financial systems and democratizing access to investment products.
Transforming Traditional Finance: The Road Ahead
BlackRock’s strategic moves in blockchain tokenization mark an inflection point in the financial industry’s approach to blockchain innovation. As traditional finance increasingly converges with blockchain technology, initiatives such as tokenized ETFs, tokenized equities, and blockchain-driven market operations could redefine how assets are created, traded, and managed.
With cryptocurrency markets demonstrating the possibilities of 24/7 operability and heightened transparency, the applicability of these features to traditional asset markets has become a focal point for institutional players like BlackRock. Supported by regulatory interest and broader adoption across Wall Street, tokenization is poised to accelerate as a driver of capital market evolution.
In conclusion, BlackRock’s success with its Bitcoin ETF and its foray into tokenizing ETFs exemplify a transformative shift in the financial sector. By embracing the potential of blockchain, the world’s largest asset manager is not only pioneering innovation on Wall Street but also paving the way for an interconnected, tokenized financial ecosystem that could benefit investors worldwide.
