BlackRock identifies tokenization and the circular diagram of digital assets as the driving forces of the 2026 markets

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager with over $10 trillion under management, has placed cryptocurrency and tokenization at the core of its key trends for 2026. In its latest report, “Thematic Perspectives 2026,” the asset management giant identifies these technologies as vectors transforming the way investors access global financial markets.

Tokenization Redefines Market Infrastructure via Blockchain

Tokenization represents the digitization of real assets—real estate, stocks, bonds—in the form of tokens on the blockchain. This process is not merely a speculative trend: BlackRock presents it as a structural transformation of financial plumbing. Stablecoins, anchored to fiat currencies like the US dollar, are the most mature example.

According to the report, as tokenization advances, investors will access a universe of assets far beyond liquidity and traditional Treasury bills through decentralized blockchain infrastructures. This evolution radically changes portfolios and their management.

Bitcoin and Ethereum: Pillars of the New Cryptocurrency Ecosystem

BlackRock emphasizes the importance of the two main cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin [BTC], currently priced at $88,030, and Ethereum [ETH] at $2,930, both appear in the identified structural themes. The team led by Jay Jacobs, head of US equity ETFs, has integrated these digital assets alongside major macroeconomic forces such as artificial intelligence and energy infrastructure.

This recognition from an institution of this scale signals a turning point: blockchain and cryptocurrencies are no longer confined to the speculative segment but are considered tools of modern financial infrastructure.

The iShares Bitcoin Trust IBIT Sets Unprecedented Growth Record

BlackRock’s flagship product, the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), launched in January 2024, has become the fastest-growing ETF in market history. With net assets exceeding $70 billion, IBIT demonstrates a structural appetite among institutional investors for Bitcoin exposure integrated into a broader thematic strategy.

This exceptional success reinforces the message of the report: demand for digital assets is not cyclical but represents a lasting shift in capital flows.

The Pie Chart Reveals Ethereum’s Dominance in the Tokenized Ecosystem

A key element of the report presents a pie chart of tokenized assets by blockchain. This visualization reveals Ethereum’s overwhelming dominance, controlling over 65% of the market share of issued tokens. This leading position reflects the widespread use of Ethereum to create decentralized applications (DApps) and sophisticated token infrastructures.

BlackRock specifically identifies Ethereum as a major beneficiary of upcoming growth in tokenization. The pie chart thus provides a visual proof of this dynamic: Ethereum is not just a cryptocurrency but the backbone of the emerging tokenized infrastructure.

Strategic Implications for the Future of Markets

This recognition by BlackRock is of paramount importance. Far from viewing blockchain as a niche phenomenon, the report positions it at the center of what the manager calls “mega forces” of transformation: increased demand for computing power (AI), geopolitical reconfigurations of defense spending, and deployment of infrastructures on a global scale.

For cryptocurrency investors, the message is clear: digital technologies and tokenization are not just approaching the mainstream—they are restructuring the very foundations of the financial system as known by institutions.