BlackRock has made history by acquiring municipal debt through a transaction fully utilizing blockchain technology, marking the first instance of municipal bonds being purchased, settled, and held on a blockchain platform. The $6.5 million deal involved bonds issued by Quincy, Massachusetts, and was facilitated via JPMorgan's private blockchain application. This innovative approach enhances transparency and security in municipal finance, reflecting BlackRock's commitment to transforming capital markets. In the cryptocurrency space, BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust is nearing $60 billion in assets under management, significantly outperforming its gold ETF, which took 20 years to reach $33 billion. Despite recent volatility in Bitcoin's price, BlackRock capitalized on the dip, purchasing $1 billion worth of Bitcoin.