BlackRock Canada launched IBQT, a Toronto-listed fund that pairs a 97% equity allocation with a 3% Bitcoin allocation through underlying iShares ETFs. The fund carries a 0.22% management fee and gains its Bitcoin exposure through BlackRock's Canadian spot Bitcoin ETF. The launch lands as BlackRock's U.S. Bitcoin ETF recently drew hundreds of millions of dollars in inflows.
BlackRock Canada began trading the iShares Equity + Bitcoin ETF Portfolio, ticker IBQT, on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Aug. 10. The fund targets a 97% allocation to equities and 3% to Bitcoin, combining both exposures in one listed security.
IBQT builds Bitcoin exposure through iShares funds
Rather than holding stocks or Bitcoin directly, IBQT invests mainly in other iShares ETFs, with stock exposure spanning Canadian, U.S., international and emerging markets, according to BlackRock. Its Bitcoin exposure comes through BlackRock's Canadian iShares Bitcoin ETF, also called IBIT, which began trading on Cboe Canada in January 2025. BlackRock set IBQT's annual management fee at 0.22%, including fees charged by its underlying ETFs.
According to Steven Leong, head of Canada product and iShares at BlackRock, the funds reflect a commitment to "expanding access to investing for Canadians through low-cost, one-ticker solutions."
BlackRock also launches international equity fund XINT
BlackRock Canada additionally introduced the iShares Core MSCI All-International Equity Index ETF, ticker XINT, carrying an annual management fee of 0.23%. XINT tracks the MSCI ACWI ex North America IMI Index, which includes more than 5,000 companies across over 40 developed and emerging markets, excluding Canada and the United States. Both funds are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada through the RBC iShares alliance, and BlackRock's iShares business managed about $6.2 trillion across more than 1,700 ETFs as of June 30.
A smaller Bitcoin slice than BlackRock's other crypto funds
IBQT extends BlackRock's push beyond standalone spot Bitcoin ETFs into funds that blend crypto with traditional strategies. In June, the asset manager launched its Bitcoin income ETF BITA in the United States, which invests mainly in BlackRock's U.S.-listed iShares Bitcoin Trust and sells covered call options for monthly income. IBQT takes a more conservative route: Bitcoin represents only 3% of the target portfolio, so performance stays tied mainly to global equities, though the crypto share can rise or fall between portfolio rebalancing periods as Bitcoin's price moves.
U.S. Bitcoin ETF flows dwarf Canada's allocation
BlackRock's U.S.-listed iShares Bitcoin Trust remains the largest American spot Bitcoin ETF by assets, giving a scale comparison for the smaller Canadian allocation. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs drew about $853.5 million over five consecutive sessions from Aug. 3 through Aug. 7. BlackRock's IBIT accounted for an estimated $693 million, or roughly 81% of the total. IBQT is listed separately in Canada, but its launch shows regulated Bitcoin exposure moving into broader portfolio funds rather than staying limited to standalone crypto vehicles.
The 3% target caps Bitcoin's influence next to a spot ETF, yet still lets investors keep exposure if the asset rises.
Source: crypto.news
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