TLDR
- BlackRock’s Nicholas Peach said 1% crypto allocation in Asia could mean about $2T inflows.
- Peach estimated Asia household assets at about $108T during Consensus Hong Kong.
- BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF IBIT has about $53B AUM since launching in January 2024.
- Peach said Asian investors already contribute to flows into U.S.-listed crypto ETFs.
A single percentage point may sound small, yet BlackRock says it could move crypto markets. A BlackRock executive told a Consensus Hong Kong audience that Asia’s wealth makes that math possible. Nicholas Peach said advisers in Asia could recommend a 1% crypto sleeve. He said that change could translate into almost $2 trillion in new inflows, according to CoinDesk.
Allocation math presented at Consensus Hong Kong
Peach tied the estimate to the size of household wealth across the region. He put total household assets around $108 trillion, so small shifts add up quickly.
He told the panel that advisers often start with model portfolios and then apply minor tilts. In that setting, he said, “a 1% allocation” could produce “nearly $2 trillion” in potential demand.
Peach described the figure as a thought experiment based on broad regional totals. He also said flows would depend on product access, and on how advisers frame crypto risk.
IBIT growth frames the discussion
Peach pointed to demand for crypto exchange traded funds and for regulated access. He referenced BlackRock’s U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF, iShares Bitcoin Trust, which trades as IBIT.
IBIT has grown fast since its January 2024 launch and it sits near $53 billion in assets. The same report said Asian investors have contributed meaningfully to U.S.-listed crypto ETF flows.
Market participants have tracked ETF activity because it channels demand through brokerage accounts. Peach said this structure can fit standard portfolio tools, and it can also simplify custody choices.
BlackRock entered 2026 with record firmwide assets under management of about $14.04 trillion. Reuters reported that result after its fourth quarter update, and ETFs drove large net inflows.
Asia regulators move toward wider ETF lineups
The comments arrived as several Asian markets review or expand rules for crypto funds. Reports have focused on Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea as they consider broader ETF offerings.
Those steps differ by market, but they share a push for clearer listing and custody rules. That approach matters for institutions, because many firms need regulated vehicles to participate.
Hong Kong has hosted crypto ETF listings, while other jurisdictions have discussed next steps. Policy updates often move in phases, and fund issuers tend to wait for final rule text.
Panel discussions in Hong Kong also touched on adviser training and on suitability checks. Wealth firms often require risk questionnaires, and they also set caps for higher risk products in many markets.
Bitcoin context and risk language from BlackRock leadership
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has also discussed bitcoin in public forums, and he has used caution. He called bitcoin an “asset of fear,” and he said it can act as a hedge for some investors.
Fink also warned that bitcoin remains volatile, and leverage can worsen short term price moves. He said short term trading can be difficult, so timing matters for those who treat it as a trade.
Bitcoin Magazine reported bitcoin near $68,000 after a drop from late 2025 highs. The report also described a rebound after weekly RSI reached oversold levels. Peach’s panel comments kept the focus on allocation decisions rather than price calls. He said adviser guidance, and product access, could shape whether that 1% becomes common.
