The position expanded from 1.9 million shares reported in June, making IBIT the largest declared U.S. holding for the world's biggest academic endowment.
Bitcoin News
Harvard University's endowment increased its Bitcoin exposure by 257% during the third quarter, accumulating 6.8 million shares of BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust, now valued at approximately $443 million. The position expanded from 1.9 million shares reported in June, making IBIT the largest declared U.S. holding for the world's biggest academic endowment.
BlackRock's Bitcoin fund now surpasses Harvard's positions in Microsoft, Amazon, and the SPDR Gold Trust, according to regulatory filings submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission. While the allocation represents a small fraction of Harvard's $56.9 billion total endowment, the increase signals growing institutional confidence in cryptocurrency as a legitimate portfolio component.
Atlanta-based Emory University similarly expanded its digital asset exposure through regulated exchange-traded fund vehicles. The institution reported holding over 1 million shares of Grayscale's Bitcoin Mini Trust valued at $52 million as of Sept. 30, marking a 91% increase from approximately 535,000 shares three months earlier. Emory maintained its 4,450-share IBIT position unchanged from the previous quarter.
An Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund disclosed substantial Bitcoin accumulation during the same period. Al Warda Investments, managed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council within the Mubadala group, reported owning 7.96 million IBIT shares worth $517.6 million. The position grew 230% from 2.4 million shares held at the end of June.
University endowments gained access to Bitcoin through ETF structures approved by regulators in January 2024, eliminating custody concerns and operational barriers that previously prevented institutional allocations. These regulated investment vehicles allow universities to hold digital asset exposure through traditional brokerage accounts subject to familiar governance frameworks. Emory became the first U.S. university to publicly disclose spot Bitcoin ETF holdings earlier this year.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced severe outflows during the week ending Nov. 14 despite these institutional position increases. The 11 U.S.-listed funds lost $867 million on Thursday alone, representing the second-largest single-day redemption since regulatory approval. Another $462 million exited Friday, bringing three-day outflows to $1.17 billion according to Farside Investors data.
Bitcoin started the week trading above $107,000 before falling below $95,000 by Friday's close. The university filings reflect investment decisions made during the third quarter when Bitcoin traded in a range between $95,000 and $110,000. These disclosures demonstrate long-term institutional conviction in digital assets despite significant short-term price volatility and recent market weakness affecting the broader crypto sector.
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