Investors are shifting their focus from gold to Bitcoin, with over $9 billion flowing into US Bitcoin ETFs in the past five weeks, primarily driven by BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF. In contrast, gold-backed funds have seen outflows exceeding $2.8 billion during the same period. This divergence in investor behavior comes as easing trade tensions have diminished demand for traditional safe havens like gold. Bitcoin is increasingly being recognized as a viable alternative store of value amid growing concerns about US fiscal stability. The market's leading cryptocurrency reached a record high of $111,980, buoyed by favorable regulatory developments and rising macroeconomic uncertainty. Analysts suggest that this rotation towards Bitcoin ETFs indicates a growing acceptance of the cryptocurrency as a legitimate hedge within investment portfolios. Bitcoin's decentralized nature gives it an advantage over gold in times of financial system risks, according to some experts. Despite Bitcoin's notorious volatility, it appears to be shedding its previous reputation as merely a tech-adjacent risk asset, with its intraday correlation with major indices, the dollar, and gold significantly decreasing. The backdrop of growing fiscal strain has intensified the discourse surrounding these assets, with Moody's recently downgrading the US credit rating, citing concerns over ballooning deficits and national debt. Despite the recent surge in Bitcoin's popularity, gold still outperforms on a year-to-date basis, boasting gains of about 25% compared to Bitcoin's rise of approximately 15%.

The price of gold surged to $3,800 per ounce on Monday, sending the market value of U.S. gold reserves past the $1 trillion mark—but on the government's books, it's still worth pennies in comparison.

The iShares Gold Trust Micro (the 'Trust') seeks to reflect generally the performance of the price of gold.The iShares Gold Trust Micro is not an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and therefore is not subject to the same regulatory requirements as mutual funds or ETFs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Trust is not a commodity pool for purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risk factors and other information included in the prospectus.

Bitcoin’s soaring price could drive investors toward ETFs like BlackRock’s iShares, offering affordability and regulated exposure.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF saw its largest single-day outflow on December 24, with $188.7 million withdrawn, according to CoinGlass data.

The iShares Bitcoin ETF has already surpassed $30 billion in assets in less than a year on the market.

ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) and iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) have reentered the top 10 most-traded ETFs, displacing some semiconductor ETFs. He noted this reflects capital rotating from the AI

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