BlackRock said on Tuesday that it will launch a new exchange-traded fund tracking the Nasdaq-100 Index, aiming to capture rising investor demand for exposure to the AI-driven rally in U.S. equities. The product, named the iShares Nasdaq-100 ETF, will be issued by the world’s largest asset manager and is set to begin trading on Thursday.
BlackRock moves deeper into tech-focused index exposure
The Nasdaq-100 has long served as a benchmark for large-cap U.S. growth and technology stocks. As AI-related names continue to lead market gains, investor interest in products tied to the index has remained elevated. BlackRock’s latest launch signals a deeper push into one of the most closely watched segments of the U.S. ETF market.
The timing is notable. Nasdaq recently revised its inclusion criteria to accelerate the entry of newly listed companies into the index, including firms such as SpaceX. That change has increased market attention on Nasdaq-100-linked investment vehicles, especially among investors seeking broad exposure to both established technology leaders and newer growth listings through a single ETF structure.
Direct competition with Invesco’s established products
BlackRock’s new ETF will compete directly with existing Nasdaq-100 products offered by Invesco. Invesco has long held a dominant position in this niche, with QQQ Trust Series 1 and its Nasdaq-100 ETF remaining among the most widely used instruments for gaining exposure to large-cap growth and tech stocks.
The competitive landscape is also becoming more crowded. State Street launched a Nasdaq-100 ETF last month, adding another major asset manager to the field. With BlackRock now entering the segment, competition in Nasdaq-100 ETF products is likely to intensify as leading firms race to expand their offerings around benchmark technology equity exposure.