Harvard Invests $117 Million in BlackRock's Spot Bitcoin ETF, Surpassing Alphabet Shares.
According to the filing released on Friday, Harvard's investment portfolio held shares worth $117 million in BlackRock's Spot Bitcoin ETF (ticker IBIT) as of the end of the second quarter this year. This investment is currently the 5th largest holding of Harvard, surpassing the value of Alphabet shares (Google's parent company) that the university owns, which is nearly $114 million.
Harvard's portfolio is managed by Harvard Management Co. Inc. and as of the end of the last quarter, the school's largest investment was Microsoft, with a value of over $310 million.
BlackRock's Spot Bitcoin ETF is considered one of the most successful ETF launches in history, strongly attracting institutional investors. Not only Harvard, but at the end of the first quarter, an investment fund owned by the Abu Dhabi government announced holding over $500 million in the same fund. Currently, the total assets under management have reached $84 billion.
Not only BlackRock, but other Bitcoin ETFs are also attracting Capital from institutions. Recently, the Michigan Retirement System stated that they have invested nearly $11 million in the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF.
The Broader Picture: Bitcoin and the Wave of Institutional Investment
Harvard's significant investment in Bitcoin through ETF shows that cryptocurrencies are gradually becoming part of long-term investment strategies for large institutions. In the past, many famous university funds were wary of Bitcoin's price volatility risks. However, the approval of Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US has opened up a legal, transparent, and supervised investment channel, helping to alleviate concerns.
According to analysts, this move also reflects the global financial market's search for inflation-hedging assets and portfolio diversification, especially during a period of political and economic volatility. Under President Donald Trump - who was re-elected at the end of 2024 - the US government is believed to have a more crypto-friendly policy, providing additional motivation for institutional investors.
Not only Harvard, but many other universities like Yale, Stanford, and University of Texas are rumored to be considering or have already made indirect investments in Bitcoin through ETFs. If this trend continues, Bitcoin could become a permanent asset in large investment funds, similar to gold and US Treasury bonds.
