BlackRock to offer crypto access to institutional clients through Coinbase deal

Quick Take

  • BlackRock is set to work with Coinbase in order to offer institutional investors access to crypto.

BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, will offer its institutional clients access to crypto though a deal with exchange giant Coinbase.

BlackRock, which manages around $9 trillion of customer funds, will use Coinbase Prime to provide the service, according to a blog post from Coinbase on Thursday. Clients using the asset manager's Aladdin portfolio management software will soon be able to get direct access to crypto through the partnership — initially bitcoin. 

Coinbase's Prime product will give Aladdin clients — who are also clients of Coinbase — access to crypto trading, custody, prime brokerage and reporting capabilities.

Speaking about the announcement, BlackRock's global head of strategic ecosystem partnerships, Joseph Chalom, said the firm's clients are increasingly interested in getting exposure to digital asset markets. Chalom went on to say "this connectivity with Aladdin will allow clients to manage their bitcoin exposures directly in their existing portfolio management and trading workflows for a whole portfolio view of risk across asset classes.”

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According to Coinbase's announcement, both firms will work to progress the integration and roll out functionality on a phased basis. Access is available for institutions using both Aladdin and Coinbase. 

BlackRock didn't immediately respond to a request for additional comment from The Block. 


© 2023 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

About Author

Adam Morgan is a reporter covering cryptocurrency, financial markets, and economics – anything from price movements, earnings reports, and inflation to the U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate decisions and everything in between. Adam is based in London.