BlackRock Sets October Date for ETHA Reverse Split
BlackRock will carry out a one-for-three reverse share split on its iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) on October 6, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The move is a structural adjustment to the fund rather than a change in its investment mandate or underlying holdings.
The split will consolidate every three ETHA shares into one, increasing the fund's per-share net asset value without changing the value of investors' holdings or the fund's assets. Investors will see their holdings adjusted automatically, with no action required on their part.
Lower Trading Costs the Key Goal
Although BlackRock has not formally explained the rationale, the primary benefit is expected to come from reduced trading costs. The move is expected to push the share price from roughly $14 up to around $42, while narrowing the trading spread from about 7 basis points to roughly 2 basis points.
Bloomberg Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas highlighted the significance of that reduction. "This will lower cost to trade from 7bps to 2bps-ish," Balchunas said, adding: "Gotta love how ETF issuers consider a 7bp spread a PROBLEM and is adjusting to cut it to 2bps."
Reverse splits are common in the ETF industry, often used to align share prices with peer funds or to meet exchange listing requirements. Industry participants view the reverse split as a step to improve the ETF's trading structure rather than an event that would directly affect Ethereum's price.
ETHA is the dominant product in the spot Ethereum ETF market. The fund's total assets under management exceed $5 billion, and BlackRock's iShares Ethereum Trust has been supplying the overwhelming majority of demand across the spot Ethereum ETF complex. BlackRock also issues the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF, which began trading in March 2026.
Sources
The Block: BlackRock's spot Ethereum ETF to undergo 1-for-3 reverse share split in October
Investing.com: Ethereum's Narrow Rally Depends Heavily on BlackRock and Treasury Demand
