Skip to content

BlackRock Projects Investor Demand Could Drive Bond ETFs To $6 Trillion By 2030

Firm Highlights Bond ETF Innovation As Key To Navigating The Market And Capturing A ‘Generational Opportunity’ In Fixed Income

Stephen Laipply, Global Co-Head of iShares Fixed Income ETFs, and Brett Pybus, Global Co-Head of iShares Fixed Income ETFs and Head of iShares EMEA Product Strategy, BlackRock
Stephen Laipply, Global Co-Head of iShares Fixed Income ETFs, and Brett Pybus, Global Co-Head of iShares Fixed Income ETFs and Head of iShares EMEA Product Strategy, BlackRock

BlackRock projects fixed income ETFs are on pace to hit $6 trillion in assets under management (AUM) by 2030, if not earlier, due to accelerating investor demand and widening adoption, according to “Innovation Meets Opportunity,” featuring BlackRock’s annual outlook on the global fixed income ETF landscape.

Published on Wednesday, the report discusses how investors can leverage bond ETF innovation to navigate markets and capture what the firm sees as a “generational opportunity.”

The paper was written by a team of six BlackRock experts, headed by Stephen Laipply, Global Co-Head of iShares Fixed Income ETFs, and Brett Pybus, Global Co-Head of iShares Fixed Income ETFs and Head of iShares EMEA Product Strategy.

In addition to client demand for fixed income ETFs “driving significant asset growth with record flows” last year, the paper said that, worldwide, bond ETFs had the highest organic asset growth (20%) of any asset class or investment vehicle last year. So far in 2025, it said, client adoption of bond ETFs “continues to accelerate, with assets up 22% on an annualized basis.”

According to the paper, the “flywheel of bond ETF innovation is powering this growth, helping more investors to access exposures and outcomes that were previously difficult to access.”

BlackRock pointed out: “Last year a record 420 bond ETFs were launched, enabling investors to tailor their fixed income investments in ways previously unthinkable.”

Meanwhile, the “ever-increasing toolkit allows investors to take advantage of a generational opportunity in fixed income,” according to the paper. “Yields are higher than they have been in 20 years. Globally, some 80% of fixed income assets now yield over 4% and we believe they’ll remain elevated for the foreseeable future.”

BlackRock played a role in these trends as its iShares ETFs have provided innovations in bond ETFs over the past two decades, according to the firm.

Stephen Cohen, Chief Product Officer and Head of Global Product Solutions, BlackRock
Stephen Cohen, Chief Product Officer and Head of Global Product Solutions, BlackRock

“Bond investing has long been a cornerstone of portfolios for its ability to preserve capital, diversify equities and generate income,” Stephen Cohen, Chief Product Officer and Head of Global Product Solutions at BlackRock, said in a foreword to the report.

But, according to Cohen: “The methods by which investors access fixed income and integrate this asset class into their portfolios are evolving rapidly. Increasingly, investors of all types are turning to bond ETFs, attracted by the innovation within the wrapper and its benefits of transparency, enhanced liquidity and efficiency.”

He added: “The extensive range of bond ETFs available today, coupled with their historical durability and resilience during periods of market volatility, are empowering investors to easily and efficiently navigate markets and pursue their investment goals.”

Jeff Berman, Contributing Editor and Reporter at Wealth Solutions Report, can be reached at jeff.berman@wealthsolutionsreport.com.

Jeff Berman

Jeff Berman

Jeff Berman brings over 30 years of experience to the Wealth Solutions Report team as a reporter and editor covering a wide range of beats, including the financial services business.

All articles
Tags: Wealthtech

More in Wealthtech

See all

More from Jeff Berman

See all

From our partners