The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has fined BlackRock Advisors $2.5 million for inaccurately describing investments in the entertainment industry in a publicly traded fund it managed. The SEC alleged that BlackRock misrepresented the nature of its investments in a print and advertising business called Aviron Group, as well as the interest rate associated with those investments. BlackRock discovered these errors in 2019 and corrected the information in subsequent years. The asset manager agreed to pay the penalty for the incorrect investment disclosure agreement. This news comes as BlackRock’s proposed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) was noticed listed on the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) listing, leading many to believe that approval for the ETF is imminent. However, the ETF listing was later removed and then reappeared, causing confusion. A spokesperson from DTCC confirmed that the iShares Bitcoin ETF has been listed on the platform since August and stated that the move is not indicative of any regulatory approval.
