BlackRock Holds 774K BTC in 2026 as 674K Becomes Illiquid Supply Squeeze
BlackRock entered 2026 holding about 774,000 BTC, with around 674,000 coins effectively removed from active circulation because they sit in ETF custody and long-term corporate holdings, industry trackers show. Fidelity and other institutional players have similarly increased holdings, underscoring a rapid rise in institutional concentration as regulated spot ETFs and public company treasuries lock up large portions of the market.
The significance is twofold: a smaller free float can create upward pressure on price and reduce short-term liquidity, while greater institutional control changes market structure and governance expectations. For traders and long-term holders, the trend points to deeper institutionalization of bitcoin and potential volatility shifts; for regulators and exchanges, it raises questions about market resilience and the effects of concentrated ownership on price discovery.