Easily one of the most compelling attributes of cryptocurrency as an asset class is the potential for generating significant wealth, often in short order. For those keeping score at home, as of the end of September, there were 241,700 crypto millionaires around the world, representing a 40% year-over-year increase.
Impressively, 69,000 of those suddenly affluent digital currency investors joined the millionaire club over the 12 months ending in September 2025. Due to Bitcoin's (BTC +2.64%) status as the largest cryptocurrency, it's not surprising that 60% of digital asset millionaires entered this rarefied territory through Bitcoin.
This Bitcoin ETF could punch some investors' tickets to millionaire status. Image source: Getty Images
So the easy answer to the question "Is the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT 2.01%) a millionaire maker?" is "Potentially, yes." Let's dive into how this exchange-traded fund (ETF) could help a new batch of investors enter seven-figure territory.
How much (Bit)coin do you have?
Assessing whether the iShares ETF is a millionaire maker boils down to two simple factors: Bitcoin's price action and the number of shares of the fund an investor owns. As of late Monday, Nov. 17, an investor would need to own 1,754.30 shares of the ETF to have holdings equivalent to a single Bitcoin.
A single token doesn't make an investor a Bitcoin whale, but getting there isn't cheap, as highlighted by the cryptocurrency's late Nov. 17 price of about $91,950. The iShares ETF is significantly more affordable at $52.09, but remember, market participants need 1,754.30 shares just to get to a single Bitcoin. So the most effective way for this fund to create millionaires would be for Bitcoin to notch a more than 11-fold increase from current levels, blessing those fortunate enough to own 1,754.30 shares in the process.
NASDAQ: IBIT
Key Data Points
Of course, Bitcoin eventually becoming a $1 million asset has been widely discussed. Strategy (formerly known as MicroStrategy) CEO Michael Saylor sees the king of crypto heading to $1 million and beyond. Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood recently stated that Bitcoin could reach $1.2 million by 2030. If accurate, that forecast implies that investors wouldn't need to own an entire Bitcoin, as represented by the iShares ETF, in order for the fund to make them millionaires.
Still, the math is the math. Investors aiming to become millionaires by way of Bitcoin ETFs either need the token to move to $1 million and beyond, or they have to own a substantial amount of the ETF's shares, so smaller price appreciation could potentially catapult them to millionaire status.
This Bitcoin ETF just won a big endorsement
Regardless of the asset in question, it usually takes patience and time to become a millionaire. It's why many wealthy individuals say, "The first million is the hardest." Anxious market participants can take heart in knowing the iShares Bitcoin ETF is garnering support from some noteworthy circles.
Harvard Management Co.'s recently released third-quarter 13F filing confirms the largest disclosed position held by the Ivy League university's endowment is this Bitcoin ETF. In fact, the investment manager more than tripled its stake in the fund from the second quarter. That's not enough to make all of this ETF's holders millionaires, but it does indicate Bitcoin is generating support among the smart money crowd.