Retirement investors now have a new path to digital assets, as Delaware Life embeds a bitcoin annuity feature inside its fixed indexed products while preserving principal protection.
Delaware Life expands fixed indexed annuity lineup
Delaware Life has broadened its fixed indexed annuity range by adding a market index linked to Bitcoin. The insurer, part of Group 1001, confirmed the enhancement on January 20. The change brings cryptocurrency exposure into a regulated, retirement-style structure and illustrates growing mainstream acceptance of digital assets within traditional insurance products.
The company focuses on long-term savings and income solutions for retail investors. With this update, policyholders can tap into Bitcoin-related performance through a structured index. Moreover, the design keeps the principal protection that defines fixed indexed annuities, so investors gain upside-linked participation without directly holding any crypto assets.
BlackRock-powered index integrated into annuity products
Delaware Life has incorporated the BlackRock US Equity Bitcoin Balanced Risk 12% Index into several offerings. The new index option is now available on its Momentum Growth, Momentum Growth Plus, and DualTrack Income fixed indexed annuity products. These contracts typically credit interest based on external market benchmarks while insulating the original premium from market losses.
This familiar structure appeals to retirement-focused savers who want controlled growth rather than full equity volatility. That said, embedding Bitcoin exposure inside the annuity wrapper demonstrates how investor preferences are shifting. Many households now look for digital asset exposure via established financial brands, and insurers are reshaping product menus in response.
Within this context, the new index serves as an annuity bitcoin exposure option that fits within existing compliance and distribution frameworks. However, clients still rely on the insurer for guarantees tied to the contract rather than to the underlying index components.
How BlackRock’s balanced index manages risk
The BlackRock US Equity Bitcoin Balanced Risk 12% Index combines a diversified basket of U.S. equities with a systematic allocation to Bitcoin-linked returns. It aims for an annualized volatility of about 12%. To maintain that level, the strategy can reduce exposure and shift into cash during particularly turbulent markets.
This dynamic rebalancing framework seeks to smooth the ride for long-term investors. Moreover, the index’s equity sleeve tracks a broad U.S. stock market fund, helping anchor performance to traditional asset classes. During periods of stress, the cash allocation is designed to dampen swings and preserve a more stable path for credited interest.
The Bitcoin component is delivered through a regulated spot Bitcoin ETP, rather than direct token ownership. Consequently, investors avoid managing private keys, wallets, or crypto-native platforms. This structure also sidelines custody concerns at the individual level and aligns with insurance regulatory expectations.
Traditional finance channels crypto into regulated products
The introduction of this index-linked feature reflects a broader pattern across traditional finance. Asset managers and insurers are steadily embedding crypto-linked exposures into regulated, mainstream vehicles. Exchange-traded funds initially opened the door for many investors. Now, insurance-based contracts extend that access further into retirement and income-planning products.
The BlackRock index relies on infrastructure developed by the firm as it has expanded its presence in digital assets through spot Bitcoin offerings. These vehicles have attracted substantial inflows, even amid episodes of price volatility. As a result, many financial institutions increasingly view Bitcoin-linked allocations as a lasting component of diversified portfolios.
In this environment, positioning a blackrock risk managed index inside an annuity helps bridge the gap between crypto markets and highly regulated insurance channels. However, the index itself does not alter the contractual guarantees of the annuity, which remain governed by the insurer’s obligations.
Market backdrop and long-term positioning
The Delaware Life annuity update arrived during a period of broad weakness across digital asset markets. In that window, Bitcoin traded lower alongside other cryptocurrencies, and spot Bitcoin funds recorded net outflows. Nevertheless, cumulative assets across major exchange-traded products have remained significant, underscoring continued institutional and retail interest.
That said, the timing of this rollout suggests a strategic, long-term orientation rather than a short-term market bet. The annuity chassis emphasizes capital protection combined with measured exposure to growth-oriented assets. This balance resonates with retirement investors who prioritize downside limits while still seeking participation in evolving market themes.
By placing a bitcoin annuity element within a familiar insurance framework, Delaware Life underscores how traditional finance continues to adapt to rising demand for digital asset access. Moreover, the move highlights how principal protection features, index-based crediting, and crypto-linked performance can coexist inside a single regulated retirement product.
Principal protection and the role of product design
Fixed indexed annuities, including Delaware Life’s Momentum and DualTrack series, maintain the core promise that the policyholder’s principal is shielded from market losses, subject to contract terms. Interest credits hinge on index performance, but the value of the initial premium is not reduced by downturns in the benchmark itself.
This design is particularly relevant for a principal protected crypto annuity structure. Moreover, it allows investors who are wary of direct crypto exposure to participate indirectly through an insurance-regulated product. While upside potential is typically capped or subject to participation limits, many retirees accept those trade-offs in exchange for downside protection.
Ultimately, the retirement crypto exposure product from Delaware Life blends traditional insurance guarantees with a rules-based index from BlackRock. Consequently, it offers a gateway to digital asset-linked returns within a format already familiar to financial professionals and their clients.
In summary, Delaware Life’s integration of Bitcoin-linked indexing into fixed indexed annuities marks another step in the convergence of traditional finance and digital assets. The approach preserves principal protection while expanding diversified growth options for long-term retirement planning.
Source: https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2026/01/21/bitcoin-annuity-index/
