Dark

Bitcoin

BlackRock

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A $1.29 billion dark pool block trade in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust crossed Nasdaq on Tuesday, marking what analysts are calling a record-breaking institutional print for a US spot Bitcoin ETF.
<h2 id="record-block-trade-draws-immediate-attention">Record Block Trade Draws Immediate Attention</h2>
<cite>The block trade drew immediate attention from institutional traders and crypto analysts tracking ETF flows.</cite><cite>The order, covering roughly 29 million shares, executed at approximately $43.16 per share and was confirmed by Bloomberg ETF analysts Eric Balchunas and James Seyffart as an intermarket sweep order.</cite><cite>The single print produced a chart candle that exceeded IBIT's typical full-day trading volume.</cite>
<cite>Alex Thorn of Galaxy Research described it as a "massive $1.289 billion IBIT block sale by unknown party through dark pool," calling it the biggest such trade he has ever seen.</cite><cite>Thorn estimated the trade equalled roughly 16,400 <a href="https://x.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=cashtag_click" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">$BTC</a>.</cite>
<cite>The block sale may help explain a sharp intraday reversal in Bitcoin that took the price from $78,000 to below $76,000, with the timing of the price action closely matching the execution of the trade.</cite><cite>Dark pool transactions involve both a buyer and a seller and can reflect portfolio rebalancing, hedging, options-related activity, or liquidation.</cite>
<h2 id="bitcoin-holds-steady-as-market-watches-for-flow-data">Bitcoin Holds Steady as Market Watches for Flow Data</h2>
<cite>IBIT finished the session at $42.99, slightly above levels seen before the block trade, while Bitcoin traded near $75,900 and remained above $75,000 through the day.</cite><cite>Analysts and traders noted that the fund's liquidity profile has grown, allowing large trades to execute without sharp price disruptions.</cite>
<cite>At the same time the block crossed, institutional options flow showed nearly $1 million moving into December 2026 IBIT call options at a $45 strike, suggesting at least some large market participants remain bullish on Bitcoin through the end of 2026.</cite>
<cite>Official ETF flow figures, due the next trading day, will show whether the transaction registers as a net outflow for US spot Bitcoin ETFs or as an internal transfer between counterparties.</cite><cite>IBIT launched in January 2024 and has since grown into the dominant spot Bitcoin ETF, with approximately $60 billion in assets under management.</cite>
Sources: <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2026/05/26/live-markets-bitcoin-on-sidelines-as-markets-surge-on-iran-peace-hopes" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CoinDesk: Live Markets, May 26, 2026</a> <a href="https://news.bitcoin.com/blackrock-ibit-dark-pool-trade-tops-1-29-billion-as-bitcoin-stays-flat-above-75000/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bitcoin.com News: BlackRock IBIT Dark Pool Trade Tops $1.29 Billion</a> <a href="https://cryptobriefing.com/blackrock-ibit-dark-pool-trade-bitcoin/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Crypto Briefing: BlackRock's $1.3B Dark Pool Trade</a>

BlackRock IBIT Sees Massive $1.29B Dark Pool Trade

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