TLDR
- BlackRock assigned the ticker $BITA to its proposed iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF.
- The company filed an amended S-1 registration statement for the new Bitcoin fund.
- The ETF will combine spot Bitcoin exposure with a covered call options strategy.
- Eric Balchunas said BlackRock has not set a management fee and estimated 38 basis points.
- The fund plans to hold Bitcoin-linked assets, including shares of IBIT.
BlackRock has advanced its Bitcoin product range by assigning the ticker $BITA to a new income-focused ETF. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas confirmed the update on X and referenced an amended S-1 filing. The product will combine spot Bitcoin exposure with an options overlay strategy.
BlackRock Advances Bitcoin Premium Income Structure
BlackRock plans to list the fund as the iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF under the ticker $BITA. Eric Balchunas stated on X that the firm filed an amended S-1 registration statement. He described the fund as a sequel to the company’s existing Bitcoin ETF lineup.
He added that BlackRock has not set a management fee for the product. However, he placed his “over/under” estimate at 38 basis points. The company has not announced an official launch date.
The proposed ETF will hold Bitcoin-linked assets, including shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust. The trust trades under the ticker IBIT and provides spot Bitcoin exposure. The new strategy will also write covered call options on those holdings to generate premium income.
According to prior SEC filings, the structure aims to deliver income while tracking Bitcoin’s price performance. The fund will reflect Bitcoin returns net of expenses. BlackRock designed the ETF to expand beyond passive exposure into yield-based strategies.
The filing shows that the fund will combine direct exposure with an income-generating overlay. The approach mirrors covered call equity ETFs that seek steady option premiums. BlackRock continues to broaden its institutional crypto offerings through structured products.
Morgan Stanley Moves Forward With MSBT Listing
Morgan Stanley has progressed with its own spot Bitcoin ETF under the proposed ticker MSBT. The New York Stock Exchange issued a listing notice earlier this year. If approved, MSBT would mark the first spot Bitcoin ETF issued by a major U.S. bank.
The trust will hold Bitcoin in custody and allow brokerage clients to access spot exposure. Coinbase Custody will safeguard the Bitcoin in cold storage. BNY Mellon will manage administration, transfer agency services, and cash operations.
Filings revealed that MSBT will carry a 0.14% annual expense ratio. That fee undercuts BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, which charges about 0.25%. The competitive pricing may support distribution within Morgan Stanley’s wealth platform.
Morgan Stanley oversees trillions in client assets across its advisory network. The firm plans to seed the ETF with about 50,000 shares valued at about $1million. The structure aligns with existing U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs.
Recent data shows that U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have attracted tens of billions in inflows since launch. Asset managers continue to compete on fees and product design. Regulators have not yet announced final approval dates for either $BITA or MSBT.
