**BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin ETF Breaks Records, Surpasses Gold Holdings**

BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin ETF has reached astounding heights, now outperforming the firm's gold ETF in terms of net assets. This landmark achievement for the world's largest asset manager reflects a shifting trend in investment preferences. The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, launched in January, has amassed $33.17 billion in value, outstripping the iShares Gold ETF, which has $32.96 billion in net assets, even though the latter has been in existence since 2005 and became part of BlackRock's portfolio in 2009.

The surge in BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF has been significantly driven by Donald Trump's re-election, a development that jolted financial markets. Following Trump's return to the White House, the daily trading volume for BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF soared to $4.1 billion, surpassing even the trading volumes of major stocks like Netflix, Visa, and Berkshire Hathaway.

Investor optimism that Trump's administration will favorably impact the cryptocurrency sector has fueled this extraordinary activity. The day after the election, BlackRock reported its highest-ever net inflow for the Bitcoin ETF, with $1.12 billion pouring in.

Pav Hundal, lead market analyst at crypto exchange Swyftx, observed, "We're in a goldilocks scenario right now of monetary easing, political certainty, and robust U.S. data. Capital is everywhere, and right now, it's flooding into the ETFs at an extraordinary velocity."

Among the 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs on offer on Wall Street, BlackRock's ETF stands out as the largest. Its net assets far exceed that of its closest competitor, Grayscale, which holds $16.79 billion in Bitcoin, illustrating BlackRock's dominant position in the market.

Bitcoin's status as "digital gold" appears increasingly secure, as BlackRock's record-setting performance highlights the growing investor confidence in the cryptocurrency as a store of value.