Harvard Reveals $116 Million Investment in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF
Harvard's endowment marks one of the largest known investments in bitcoin by a U.S. university.
Key Insights:
- Harvard disclosed a $116 million stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) as of June 30.
- This holding was included in the university’s quarterly 13-F filing with the SEC.
- The investment demonstrates an increasing trend of institutional adoption towards bitcoin spot ETFs by traditional finance entities.
Overview of Investments
The Harvard Management Company, tasked with managing the university’s $50 billion endowment, has revealed a $116 million position in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) through its latest quarterly filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
This significant allocation, documented in a Form 13-F, signifies one of the largest bitcoin investments made by any U.S. university endowment. The IBIT, operational since January of the prior year, offers investors exposure to cryptocurrency without the need for direct ownership.
Institutional Trends
The mounting number of institutional investors—from hedge funds to pension funds—is gradually incorporating regulated bitcoin products into their portfolios, as this position highlights.
The disclosure comes amid a surge in total assets in U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs, now reaching the tens of billions of dollars, attributed to both retail investments and substantial institutional contributions. This accompanying growth offers endowments daily liquidity and regulatory oversight, fulfilling governance and compliance necessities for alternative investments.
Harvard has not provided additional comments regarding this filing.
