BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager with a staggering $11.6 trillion in assets under management, has officially partnered with Anchorage Digital for crypto custody services. This move signals BlackRock’s deeper commitment to digital assets as both retail and institutional demand continue to climb.

Announced on April 8, the partnership grants BlackRock secure access to Anchorage Digital’s custody, staking, and settlement infrastructure. Anchorage stands out as the only federally chartered crypto bank in the United States—offering a level of legitimacy and security that aligns with BlackRock’s risk-averse strategy.

This isn’t BlackRock’s first foray into crypto. The firm’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF has already dominated the ETF market, drawing $39 billion in net inflows since its launch. Overall, Bitcoin ETFs—despite 2025’s turbulent swings—have brought in $36 billion in inflows, marking one of the most successful ETF rollouts in financial history.

While Coinbase continues to provide custody for BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, Anchorage’s addition to the ecosystem expands the firm’s crypto reach. Notably, Anchorage also supports BlackRock’s $2 billion BUIDL fund, a tokenized investment backed by U.S. Treasurys aimed at bridging traditional finance and blockchain tech.

As the crypto market matures, BlackRock appears to be setting the stage for broader adoption of tokenized real-world assets, particularly in Europe where it recently launched a new crypto ETP.

This strategic alignment with Anchorage suggests that the world's most powerful asset manager is not only safeguarding its crypto holdings—but doubling down on the infrastructure needed to dominate digital finance.