BlackRock recommends 2% starting allocation to Bitcoin in investment portfolios

BlackRock compares Bitcoin's volatility to tech stocks, urging a cautious introduction in multi-asset portfolios.

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According to a paper released Dec. 12, BlackRock suggests that a 1% to 2% Bitcoin allocation in multi-asset portfolios matches the risk levels found in portfolios holding technology stocks.

The asset manager, which oversees trillions of dollars, frames this range as a strategic starting point for investors seeking diverse sources of risk. Bitcoin is proposed as an element that does not entirely mirror the movement of equities.

As Bloomberg reported, BlackRock’s analysis shows that even though Bitcoin exhibits a lower correlation to other assets, its volatility amplifies overall risk in a manner not unlike portfolios heavily concentrated in a handful of large technology names.

BlackRock’s CIO of ETF and index investments, Samara Cohen, notes that a small Bitcoin weighting may operate as a separate risk driver in a balanced allocation. Beyond 2%, the firm warns that Bitcoin’s inherent volatility would contribute an outsized share of total risk, potentially overshadowing other components.

Per Bloomberg, BlackRock considers the 1% to 2% range sufficient to approximate the influence of major tech holdings, a well-known scenario among investors grappling with top-heavy equity benchmarks.

This perspective appears amid Bitcoin’s sustained gains following November’s US presidential election. Trump’s victory, combined with public endorsements and ongoing institutional inflows, saw Bitcoin surpass $100,000 in December.

Market observers attribute part of Bitcoin’s growth to demand from institutional players, and BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has captured attention as a key vehicle. The Bitcoin ETF has achieved rapid asset growth and attracted substantial inflows. Its expansion represents a trend that has bolstered Bitcoin’s acceptance among traditional investors and reshaped debates about prudent exposure.

As Forbes reported, BlackRock’s research parallels the Magnificent Seven technology stocks that have dominated a large share of the S&P 500’s value. The firm notes that Bitcoin’s market capitalization is smaller, its utility differs, and its fundamental drivers do not resemble corporate revenue streams.

Still, the allocation’s overall risk contributions resemble those of a portfolio that leans heavily into a single prominent equity holding. While past cycles saw Bitcoin’s correlation to equities tighten, recent conditions have shown more distinct patterns influenced by policy shifts, macroeconomic shifts, and evolving investor sentiment.

The paper hints that as Bitcoin becomes more integrated into mainstream portfolios, its volatility profile may shift. Widespread institutional adoption could eventually temper price fluctuations, changing the asset’s returns.

BlackRock’s position does not call for larger allocations at this stage but instead emphasizes measured sizing to maintain stable portfolio risk parameters. Its analysis provides a framework for investors weighing incremental Bitcoin exposure as the asset finds its place in long-term portfolio construction.

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