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BlackRock Expands Digital Asset Team, Adds Four High-Level Roles

The asset manager added four new roles to its website, including a legal counsel to advise on ETF launches.

What to know:

• BlackRock has posted four new digital asset job listings, signaling deeper crypto ambitions beyond its existing Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.
• The firm’s hiring push comes as tokenized finance gains traction, with BlackRock’s $1.7 billion BUIDL fund leading the market.
• While other firms eye Solana, XRP and Litecoin ETFs, BlackRock has kept future crypto product plans under wraps.

BlackRock has recently expanded its digital asset team by adding four new high-level roles, one of which is a legal counsel tasked with advising on ETF launches. This move indicates BlackRock's further foray into the realm of cryptocurrencies beyond its existing Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.

The firm's decision to bolster its digital asset team aligns with the growing interest in crypto within the finance industry. Since the start of Donald Trump's presidency, major financial institutions have been making strides to increase their involvement in the crypto space. Despite already being a prominent player in this field, especially compared to traditional banks, BlackRock appears poised for more significant developments.

The newly created positions—Director of Digital Assets, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Vice President for Digital Asset and ETF Legal Counsel, and Associate for Digital Asset—are all listed on BlackRock's website. While three roles are based in New York and one in Atlanta, specific details about their responsibilities remain vague regarding the company's future plans.

Of particular note is the legal counsel position aimed at facilitating potential crypto ETF launches. Presently, BlackRock offers two spot ETF products: iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHE). Although other firms are exploring ETFs for assets like Solana (SOL), XRP, and Litecoin (LTC), BlackRock has yet to disclose similar intentions.

Additionally, BlackRock has demonstrated a strong commitment to tokenization by establishing itself as a key player in this space. The firm's tokenized money market fund—BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL)—has garnered an impressive $1.7 billion since its inception in 2023, solidifying its position as the largest tokenized fund available.

Helene Braun

Helene Braun is a reputable news reporter based in New York at CoinDesk. She specializes in covering stories related to Wall Street developments, the emergence of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and updates on cryptocurrency exchanges. Helene also co-hosts CoinDesk's Markets Daily show on Spotify and Youtube. A recent graduate of New York University with a background in business and economic reporting, she has made appearances on CBS News, YahooFinance, and Nasdaq TradeTalks while also holding BTC and ETH investments.

The firm’s tokenized money market fund, the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL), has drawn in $1.7 billion since its introduction in 2023, making it by far the largest tokenized fund on the market currently.

Helene Braun

Helene is a New York-based news reporter at CoinDesk, covering news about Wall Street, the rise of the spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and updates on crypto exchanges. She is also the co-host of CoinDesk's Markets Daily show on Spotify and Youtube. Helene is a recent graduate of New York University's business and economic reporting program and has appeared on CBS News, YahooFinance and Nasdaq TradeTalks. She holds BTC and ETH.

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