iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT)

Our Verdict

If you want Bitcoin in a normal brokerage account and you do not want to agonize over the choice, start here. IBIT is a spot Bitcoin ETF, which just means a fund that holds actual Bitcoin and trades like any stock you already buy. BlackRock runs it, and they are the largest asset manager on the planet - IBIT became the fastest ETF in history to reach $50B in assets. Here is why that scale matters to you: it gives the fund the deepest liquidity (how easily you can buy or sell without nudging the price), and tighter bid-ask spreads quietly lower your real cost beyond the stated expense ratio (the annual fee, charged as a slice of what you hold). One honest caveat. You never hold the keys here - Coinbase Custody holds the Bitcoin for the fund, so you own shares, not coins you can withdraw, and it is not the self-custody model Fidelity uses. For most people who just want exposure and peace of mind, that trade-off is worth it. This is the closest thing to a set-and-forget Bitcoin allocation.