BlackRock selects investment themes for 2026, focusing on cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets

Source: DigitalToday Original Title: BlackRock’s Key Investment Themes for 2026…Cryptocurrencies and Tokenization Original Link: https://www.digitaltoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=623176

BlackRock(, the world’s largest asset manager), has identified cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets as one of the core investment themes shaping the market this year. While artificial intelligence(AI) and energy infrastructure remain major pillars, digital assets centered around Bitcoin(BTC), Ethereum(ETH), and stablecoins are expected to play a significant role in medium- to long-term investment trends.

The investment strategy team led by Jay Jacobs(Jay Jacobs), head of U.S. equity ETFs at BlackRock, evaluated cryptocurrencies as “one of the mega forces transforming the market unprecedentedly” in their ‘2026 Theme Outlook.’ Notably, they highlighted how blockchain is viewed not as a speculative asset but as a technological infrastructure that modernizes approaches to traditional financial assets.

From the perspective of the world’s largest asset manager managing over $10 trillion, the official mention of tokenization and digital assets is significant. BlackRock analyzed that blockchain can convert existing real assets such as real estate, stocks, and bonds into digital forms, enhancing accessibility and efficiency. Stablecoins were presented as an early example of this asset tokenization trend.

Real-world results are also emerging. BlackRock’s Bitcoin spot ETF, ‘iShares Bitcoin Trust(IBIT),’ launched in January 2024, has become the fastest-growing exchange-traded product(ETP) in history. Its net assets surpassed $70 billion, demonstrating that institutional investors’ demand for Bitcoin exposure remains strong.

Additionally, the report identified Ethereum blockchain as a major beneficiary of the tokenization expansion. Ethereum is widely used for building decentralized applications(dApp) and token infrastructure, and it is expected to serve as a key platform when various assets beyond cash and U.S. Treasuries are traded on blockchain in the future.

While cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets are not the main focus of the report, BlackRock assessed that the increasing demand for computational power driven by AI(AI), geopolitical shifts leading to expanded defense spending, and global infrastructure investments are acting as long-term drivers that could reshape economic structures and portfolio management approaches.

For cryptocurrency investors, BlackRock’s message indicates that digital assets and blockchain technology are gradually becoming part of mainstream financial infrastructure. Although there was no direct mention of price volatility or regulatory risks, BlackRock clearly emphasized that cryptocurrencies possess the potential to go beyond short-term speculative assets and modernize the financial system.