BlackRock plans to offer crypto trading services: report

BlackRock is said to be gearing up to offer crypto trading to its investor clients.

According to a new report from CoinDesk, sources with knowledge of the plans say trading will occur on portfolio management system Aladdin, the asset manager’s “Asset, Liability, Debt and Derivative Investment Network.” The firm also plans to enable investors to borrow using crypto collateral. Still, it’s not yet clear when crypto will be supported. 

BlackRock’s interest in cryptocurrency has grown steadily in recent months. In December of 2020, CEO Laurence Fink said a growing search volume for “bitcoin” on the firm’s website indicated a growing legitimacy. By March of 2021, one of its funds had purchased bitcoin futures. In January of this year, it filed for an exchange-traded fund that would hold blockchain and crypto firms. 

In June of last year, it began hiring for a blockchain strategy lead for its Aladdin platform. It’s also looking for engineers versed in blockchain, under a job posting titled “software/blockchain engineer – distributed ledger technology & digital assets.”

“The Aladdin Product Group is looking for a software engineer with experience in blockchain technology to help drive execution of our development activities in distributed ledger technology and digital assets,” reads the posting. 

The responsibilities include designing and implementing service APIs, evaluating and auditing external smart contracts and developing BlackRock’s own smart contracts. 

A request for comment sent to BlackRock was not returned by time of publication.