The first quarter of 2025 reaffirmed that institutional investors continue moving toward digital assets, despite geopolitical and economic turbulence. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm, has shown strong investor interest in its crypto ETFs, while the market simultaneously debates the impact of Donald Trump’s tariff policy, new rules for DeFi brokers, and rejected compensation claims from FTX.
BlackRock: $3 Billion Inflows Into Crypto ETFs in One Quarter
Between January and March 2025, BlackRock attracted $3 billion in investments to its iShares crypto ETFs, making up 2.8% of the company’s total ETF inflows ($107 billion). This highlights a significant and sustained interest in digital assets even amid uncertainty.
The firm earned $34 million in fees from trading bitcoin and ethereum-based ETFs—still under 1% of total profits, but a strong indicator of the sector’s growth potential.
By the end of Q1, BlackRock’s digital assets under management reached $50.3 billion, accounting for 0.5% of its total $11.6 trillion in assets.
The standout product is IBIT, a bitcoin-based exchange-traded fund often called “digital gold.” As of April 10, it had reached $45.4 billion in AUM, securing a leading 51.3% market share among all bitcoin ETFs.
Larry Fink: “This Is a Crisis We Created Ourselves”
Despite crypto success, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink expressed deep concern over Donald Trump’s new economic policies, particularly the imposition of tariffs. According to him, these new duties undermine global markets and bring the U.S. closer to a prolonged crisis.
Fink stated that under Trump, the U.S. has shifted from being a stabilizing force to a destabilizing one. He also pointed to a sharp rise in inflation and housing costs, calling it a “self-inflicted crisis” created by government actions.
> “This is not a pandemic. This is not a financial crisis. This is something we created,” Fink said, referring to the consequences of the tariff strategy and market volatility.
Trump Opens the Door for DeFi Brokers
While some fear a market crash, Trump continues to surprise the crypto community: he has signed an executive order exempting DeFi brokers from mandatory IRS reporting.
On one hand, this move creates a more favorable environment for DeFi sector growth, simplifying operations for protocols and new startups. On the other, it complicates anti-money laundering efforts, sparking criticism from some senators and regulators.
However, most analysts view the order as a positive sign for the crypto market, especially with elections on the horizon. The chance to operate in a freer environment may attract both institutional players and decentralized platform developers back to the U.S.
FTX: $2.5 Billion in Compensation Claims Rejected
Meanwhile, FTX is back in the spotlight: the exchange denied 392,000 compensation requests totaling $2.5 billion, citing failure to pass KYC (know-your-customer) procedures.
This decision sparked outrage among users, especially since many had waited months for an update. FTX’s leadership stated that they “cannot guarantee secure payouts without proper identity verification,” but thousands of clients believe this is just an attempt to cut costs and delay the compensation process.
As BlackRock continues expanding its crypto presence and posting record results, economic and political uncertainty in the U.S. becomes more pronounced. On one hand, Trump is easing regulatory pressure on DeFi, but on the other, his tariff policy is alarming major investors.
The crypto market once again finds itself at the heart of a global storm, where every government move could drastically change the trajectory. As always, those who win are the ones prepared for the unexpected—and who think in decades, not days.
