BlackRock Launches BITA, First Bitcoin Income ETF, on Nasdaq
BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF (BITA) began trading on Nasdaq on June 16, 2026, under the ticker BITA. The fund uses a covered-call strategy, selling call options on Bitcoin exposure (held via Coinbase custody and IBIT shares) to generate income, targeting a 15-25% annual yield while capturing at least 70% of Bitcoin's upside. The SEC approved the fund's effectiveness on June 15. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas confirmed the listing. BITA is designed for retirees, RIAs, and yield-focused institutions, with a 0.65% sponsor fee. It follows BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF IBIT, launched in January 2024. BlackRock beat Goldman Sachs to market, as Goldman has a similar product expected in early July. Grayscale offers a comparable fund, but BlackRock's fee structure and distribution give it advantages. BITA's launch comes amid a 25% Bitcoin pullback in 2026 and $2.5 billion in Q2 ETF outflows. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index stood at 21 (extreme fear) at launch. BlackRock now offers three Bitcoin products: direct custody, IBIT, and BITA.
Key facts
- BITA began trading on Nasdaq on June 16, 2026.
- BITA uses a covered-call strategy to generate income from Bitcoin exposure.
- The fund targets a 15-25% annual yield and at least 70% of Bitcoin's upside.
- The SEC approved the fund's effectiveness on June 15, 2026.
- BlackRock's IBIT is the fastest-growing ETF in history by AUM.
- Bitcoin ETFs saw $2.5 billion in net outflows in Q2 2026.
- BlackRock beat Goldman Sachs to market with this product.
- The Crypto Fear & Greed Index was at 21 at launch.
Entities
Institutions
- BlackRock
- iShares
- Nasdaq
- Bloomberg
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
- Coinbase
- Goldman Sachs
- Grayscale
- NFT Plazas