BlackRock Buys Bitcoin of $1B on Aug 17 & Sold BTC of $68M Today. Why?

Are institutions quietly reshuffling their crypto bets? A major asset titan just made headlines—again—and the market is trying to decode whether this is a warning sign or just a routine strategy. Do you know what’s going on in the crypto space inside BlackRock? To know, go through the article for a better understanding of Blackrock Bitcoin and Ethereum sell, along with estimations of what could be the possible reasons and impact.

What’s the News

BlackRock has reportedly sold $68.7 million worth of Bitcoin, sparking fresh debate over institutional confidence in crypto markets. This comes shortly after the asset manager’s massive $1 billion push into Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs just days earlier. Now, dumped $68.7 million worth of BTC and 19,504.95 ETH worth $82.7 million on August 18, 2025.

Why BlackRock Sold $68.7M Worth of Bitcoin

This sale has several possible explanations:

• Bitcoin has experienced a 5% price decline in the recent past, and BlackRock might be locking in prior profits, which is a typical strategy in volatile markets.

• The practice of portfolio rebalancing is familiar to large institutions, in which small allocations are rebalanced quarterly or monthly in response to market conditions.

• Analysts reveal that BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has acquired over half a billion dollars worth of BTC in a price downturn, which shows that its overall long-term strategy is still intact despite this mini-sell-off.

• The other angle is risk management. As the world markets remain shaky, and crypto remains a high-risk asset, partial liquidations are an insurance strategy.

• Other analysts believe that this action can be an internal hedging mechanism and not a withdrawal from the industry.

Source: Crypto Rover X

BlackRock’s Actions Today vs. Their Previous Stances on Bitcoin

The sales are paradoxical given the aggressive actions of BlackRock this previous month, such as a $1 billion position in BTC and ETH ETFs on August 17, 2025, $1.2B Worth of ETH in July 2025 .

What is even more ironic is the slow turnaround by CEO Larry Fink, who in 2017 described Bitcoin as an index of money laundering, but in 2025, he declared it as a possible global market asset. BlackRock traditionally has been known to buy the dip instead of selling into weakness.

The fact that they have been shifting their assets to sustainable investments since 2020 and announced a $500 million coal divestment implies that this BTC and ETH selling may be a part of a larger trend of returning to ESG-friendly assets.

How This Impacts the Current Market Scenario

Market sentiment is at present highly confused. Other traders on X foresee additional price corrections, and others see this as a strategic shakeout, as in past bull cycles.

According to historical information provided by the Journal of Financial Economics (2023), shakeouts tend to cause a decline of 15-20%, which is then followed by a 50% recovery after six months. In the meantime, institutional interest has not vanished- the recent $250M DeFi SPAC by Chamath Palihapitiya hints at more activity under the hood.

Bitcoin’s current price hovers around $114000, and a substantial portion is held by institutional players. If large entities continue to rebalance without buying back in, retail sentiment could weaken—yet this could also be a prime accumulation phase for long-term investors.

Source: X

Michael Saylor of MicroStrategy – Will He Do the Same?

Michael Saylor with 629376 BTC and Blackrock with 748,538 BTC, together hold 1377914, that is 6.56% of the Total Supply. Which is Huge. All signs from Michael Saylor point toward continued accumulation rather than selling. MicroStrategy currently holds 629,376 BTC, and Saylor has historically purchased dips rather than trimming holdings—even during market corrections.

His strategy is famously maximalist: “We’re not sellers.” That said, if BlackRock’s move signals broader institutional caution, some speculate Saylor could at least pause further buys until a clearer direction emerges.

Source: X

Just In: BlackRock Sold 19,504.95 $ETH Worth $82.7 Million

According to the recent information by Whale Insider on X , adding to market jitters, BlackRock has also unloaded 19,504.95 ETH valued at $82.7 million. This follows their previous sale of $375 million in ETH on August 5, 2025, which triggered a $465 million outflow from Ethereum ETFs, according to Farside Investors. With Ethereum trading near $4,354, this sale could be a move to reallocate toward sustainable or lower-risk instruments, in line with the firm’s ongoing ESG narrative.

Source: X

Conclusion

The recent sell-offs may look alarming, they appear to reflect tactical adjustments rather than a full-scale retreat from crypto. Meanwhile, long-term players like Michael Saylor remain unfazed. For now, investors would be wise to stay alert but not panic. History in crypto has a habit of repeating—with volatility now, and often growth later.