BlackRock Expands BUIDL Share Classes to 5 Blockchains

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has announced the expansion of its tokenized USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund, known as BUIDL.

By creating new “share classes” on these platforms (Aptos, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Optimism’s OP Mainnet, and Polygon), BlackRock is broadening entry to the fund.

BlackRock in the Digital Assets Ecosystem

Each supported blockchain enables applications and users to interact directly with BUIDL on-chain. Through this multi-network approach, BUIDL provides enhanced on-chain yield, flexible custody, and near-instant 24/7 peer-to-peer transfers. It also offers on-chain dividend accrual and distribution, making the platform highly versatile.

Additionally, it lets developers integrate BUIDL within their preferred blockchain ecosystems. This move helps BlackRock broaden its reach and offer a more flexible investment platform. The fund’s expansion, tokenized by Securitize, aims to boost accessibility.

“Real-world asset tokenization is scaling, and we’re excited to have these blockchains added to increase the potential of the BUIDL ecosystem. With these new chains we’ll start to see more investors looking to leverage the underlying technology to increase efficiencies on all the things that until now have been hard to do,” Securitize and co-founder Carlos Domingo said in a press statement.

Beyond BUIDL, BlackRock’s influence in the digital currency market is growing. The firm has made headlines with the launch of the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the largest spot Bitcoin ETF. Following the US SEC’s approval in January, IBIT drove a wave of institutional investment into the Bitcoin ETF market. Amid Bitcoin’s recent bull run, IBIT has seen significant capital inflows, hitting $40 billion in assets in record time.

“This is big. Some of these were under heavy SEC scrutiny – now the BlackRock stamp of approval has been extended. Another sign that the SEC reign of terror is ending.” said one enthusiast on X.

BlackRock’s venture into tokenized funds and cryptocurrency ETFs indicates a trend of merging traditional assets with blockchain-based technology. With products like BUIDL and crypto ETFs, BlackRock introduces investors to a hybrid model, blending traditional finance’s stability with digital asset innovation.

Tokenized funds, like BUIDL, allow investors to access on-chain assets with increased flexibility and accessibility. Meanwhile, ETFs provide a familiar entry point for traditional investors entering the digital asset space.