Harvard Invests $116M in BlackRock Bitcoin ETF

Published: 2025-08-10 13:23:18 |

Harvard Management Company revealed a $116 million investment in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT), acquiring 1.9 million shares as of June 30. This stake positions IBIT as its fifth-largest holding, surpassing Alphabet in Harvard’s $53 billion endowment portfolio. Approved by the SEC in January 2024, IBIT now holds $86 billion in assets, making it the largest spot Bitcoin ETF and lowering entry barriers for institutional investors. Brown University also boosted its IBIT position to $13 million, while the Michigan Retirement System committed $11.4 million to the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF. Bitcoin ETF daily trading volumes have doubled year-on-year, reflecting rising institutional demand. Harvard’s move underscores growing confidence in regulated crypto vehicles and could reinforce Bitcoin’s status as a mainstream asset.

Bullish

Harvard’s $116 million allocation to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF signals strong institutional demand for regulated crypto vehicles. The doubling of Bitcoin ETF daily trading volumes and similar moves by universities and pension funds indicate sustained inflows. In the short term, increased fund flows may drive upward price pressure on BTC. Over the long term, broader institutional adoption of spot Bitcoin ETFs could stabilize the market, reduce volatility, and validate Bitcoin as a mainstream asset, supporting a bullish outlook.