BlackRock’s IBIT Has Slightly Outperformed Vanguard’s Flagship S&P 500 ETF Since Launch

News Editor

2026-09-01 16:35:17

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust has posted a slightly higher cumulative return than Vanguard’s widely held S&P 500 ETF since both funds’ comparable starting point in January 2024, according to Bloomberg data highlighted by senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas. IBIT is up 71% since its debut, while Vanguard’s VOO has returned 66% on a total-return basis. Balchunas said the gap is small, but the ride has looked very different, describing IBIT’s climb as far more volatile than VOO’s steadier advance. The fund’s scale remains a major part of the story. BlackRock’s spot bitcoin ETF currently manages $61.4 billion in assets, based on figures on its website, making it the largest product in the U.S. spot bitcoin ETF market. The next-largest fund, Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund, manages nearly $11 billion. The article also notes renewed demand for bitcoin ETFs in August, with more than $2.8 billion flowing into the products between Aug. 17 and Aug. 27. Over the same stretch, bitcoin briefly climbed to $81,281 last week before slipping to $77,539, down nearly 1% over 24 hours, while still holding a gain of nearly 30% over the past month.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has delivered a slightly better cumulative return than Vanguard’s flagship S&P 500 ETF since its January 2024 debut.

BlackRock’s IBIT Has Slightly Outperformed Vanguard’s Flagship S&P 500 ETF Since Launch 2

Bloomberg data cited by senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas shows IBIT up 71% since launch, while Vanguard’s S&P 500 ETF, VOO, has returned 66% on a total-return basis over the same period. Balchunas said BlackRock’s fund was only narrowly ahead.

In a post on X, Balchunas wrote that it was “hard to believe $IBIT is beating $VOO since inception but it’s true,” while adding that the difference was close. He compared IBIT’s move to 70% to the El Toro roller coaster at Great Adventure, while describing VOO as “a walk in the park” by comparison.

IBIT entered the market after SEC approval

IBIT started trading in 2024 after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved 11 spot bitcoin ETFs following a decade of denials.

U.S. investors now have several exchange-traded funds that track the price of bitcoin, including products managed by Fidelity, Grayscale and Morgan Stanley. BlackRock’s offering has become the most successful of the group. According to its website, the fund currently holds $61.4 billion in assets under management.

By comparison, the second-largest bitcoin ETF, the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund, manages nearly $11 billion.

August inflows helped support bitcoin

BlackRock, which manages more than $15 trillion in assets, jolted the crypto market when it filed for a spot bitcoin ETF in 2023. The fund now gives more traditional investors a way to gain exposure to bitcoin, and it also sees heavier day-to-day trading than rival products.

Investors returned to bitcoin ETFs in August, a trend that also helped support the asset’s price. Between Aug. 17 and Aug. 27, more than $2.8 billion flowed into the vehicles, the highest amount since October, when bitcoin set a new all-time high, according to the report.

Bitcoin rose as high as $81,281 last week before pulling back again on Friday. It recently traded at $77,539, down nearly 1% over the past 24 hours. The article said the largest cryptocurrency began a strong rally two weeks ago, its best in three years, and has gained nearly 30% over the past month.

The report first appeared in Bitcoin Magazine and was written by Mathew Di Salvo.

This article was originally published by Bit.Fan. For more cryptocurrency news and market insights, visit www.bit.fan.

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