BlackRock introduced two new exchange-traded funds in Canada this week, including one with a modest Bitcoin allocation. The funds began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the RBC iShares partnership framework, expanding BlackRock's Canadian product lineup with both international equity exposure and digital asset access.

IBQT Adds a Small Bitcoin Component

The iShares Equity + Bitcoin ETF Portfolio, listed under the ticker IBQT, combines broad equity exposure with cryptocurrency participation. The fund allocates 97% of its assets to equity positions across Canadian, U.S., international, and emerging markets, while the remaining 3% is invested in Bitcoin through the Canadian iShares Bitcoin ETF, which trades under the IBIT ticker.

Rather than buying individual securities directly, IBQT primarily invests in other iShares exchange-traded funds. BlackRock says the structure is designed to provide diversified stock market exposure across multiple regions while keeping cryptocurrency exposure limited. The fund aims for long-term capital appreciation through a mix of traditional equities and a small digital asset allocation.

The product arrives amid a broader trend of major asset managers integrating cryptocurrency into conventional portfolio vehicles. BlackRock's U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF, the iShares Bitcoin Trust, launched in January 2024 and became one of the fastest-growing ETFs on record, drawing tens of billions in assets. Canada had already established itself as an early mover in crypto ETFs, approving the first Bitcoin ETF in North America through Purpose Investments in 2021, well ahead of U.S. regulators.

According to a recent report, IBQT carries an annual management fee of 0.22%. BlackRock presents the product as a single-ticker solution that combines conventional equity investing with measured Bitcoin exposure, adding another offering to its all-in-one ETF lineup. The fund builds on a format already familiar to Canadian investors, where asset-allocation ETFs bundling stocks and bonds into a single ticker have grown popular as low-cost, set-and-forget portfolio tools.

XINT Expands International Equity Coverage

BlackRock also launched the iShares Core MSCI All-International Equity Index ETF, trading as XINT. The fund is designed to track international companies outside Canada and the U.S. by replicating the MSCI ACWI ex North America IMI Index.

XINT has an annual expense ratio of 0.23%. Its benchmark covers about 5,000 companies across more than 40 developed and emerging markets, including large-cap, mid-cap, and smaller firms. The fund provides broad exposure to non-North American equities while deliberately excluding securities from North America.

BlackRock positions XINT as a core option for investors seeking international diversification beyond Canadian and U.S. markets. The fund aims to deliver long-term capital appreciation by tracking its benchmark index, and its geographic scope complements existing iShares products in Canada and the United States.

RBC iShares Partnership Supports Canadian Expansion

Both new ETFs operate through BlackRock Asset Management Canada under the RBC iShares collaboration. The partnership combines BlackRock's ETF platform with Royal Bank's Canadian distribution network, with the goal of offering streamlined access to cost-efficient exchange-traded products.

The launches broaden BlackRock's Canadian offerings while adding another product linked to cryptocurrency exposure. IBQT is distinct from a pure Bitcoin fund because 97% of the portfolio remains in traditional equity markets, leaving digital assets as a small part of the overall structure.

As of June 30, BlackRock's iShares division oversaw about $6.2 trillion in assets across more than 1,700 ETFs. The new Canadian funds extend that platform into both international equity investing and a controlled Bitcoin allocation.