SEC documents reveal that Harvard University invested over $116.6 million in IBIT, BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF, in the second quarter of 2025. IBIT is the fifth largest investment in their portfolio, surpassing Google's parent company.
This information is quite surprising, and it is still unclear when Harvard made this investment. The university has significant stakes in many technology companies, but IBIT seems to be their only commitment to Web3.
Harvard Unexpectedly Buys Bitcoin ETF
Harvard, one of the most prestigious universities in the world, has occasionally appeared in the cryptocurrency industry, but most of their interactions have been indirect.
Their Business School has approved a case about Helium and has been at the center of controversies related to Trump without having more direct connections. However, it turns out Harvard is a large Bitcoin ETF investor:
Initial social media reports suggested Harvard invested $120 million in BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF, but this information was slightly inaccurate. In fact, the figure is $116.6 million.
This disclosure comes from SEC documents detailing the university's investment portfolio at the end of the second quarter of 2025.
Nevertheless, Harvard has clearly placed much trust in Bitcoin ETF. This is the fifth largest investment in the university's current portfolio, only behind Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Booking Holdings Inc.
This figure does not include other assets such as real estate. Surprisingly, Harvard has allocated approximately $3 million more to IBIT than Alphabet, Google's parent company.
BlackRock is clearly a leader in the Bitcoin ETF market, so it is not surprising that Harvard directs its capital to this company. IBIT is the overwhelming top choice for Bitcoin ETF investment, at least for small retail investors.
Their portfolio includes other technology and cryptocurrency-related stocks, such as $104.4 million in NVIDIA, but IBIT remains Harvard's only direct exposure to Web3.
Harvard's unexpected purchase could enhance IBIT's public reputation. July was a terrible month for BTC ETFs, with BlackRock's Ethereum ETF surpassing IBIT in weekly inflows. If a pillar like Harvard still shows interest, this could represent a signal of confidence.
