- Harvard boosts IBIT and GLD holdings, making Bitcoin its largest ETF position.
- Filing shows major institutional accumulation as ETF outflows continue across the market.
- IBIT strengthens its lead in the U.S. Bitcoin ETFs while other institutions also expand positions.
Harvard University has sharply increased its exposure to Bitcoin through BlackRock’s IBIT fund, and new filings show a major shift in its portfolio strategy. The change arrives during a period of steady market outflows and broad volatility across digital assets.
Harvard Expands Exposure to Bitcoin and Gold ETFs
A new SEC filing shows Harvard now holds 6,813,612 shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust. The position was valued at about $442.8 million as of September 30. This marks a 257% increase from the 1.9 million shares reported at the end of June. It also places Harvard among the top institutional holders of IBIT.
The filing shows an expansion in gold exposure as well. Harvard reported 661,391 shares of the GLD gold ETF valued near $235 million. This nearly doubles the previous position of 333,000 shares. The two moves suggest a wider adjustment toward assets outside traditional equity markets.
Crypto ETF analyst Eric Balchunas noted that endowments rarely use ETF structures on this scale. He said that this type of allocation is “a strong validation” for the product, especially during market stress. The position now ranks as Harvard’s largest ETF holding in its 13F report.
ETF Flows Shift While Institutions Increase Holdings
The increase in Harvard’s allocation comes during a week of continued outflows from Bitcoin ETFs. Data from SoSoValue recorded withdrawals of $492 million during the latest session. On Thursday, BTC funds saw $869.9 million in outflows, which now ranks as the second-largest since launch.
Bitcoin trades near $96,261 after falling to around $95,000 before stabilizing. Yet long-term ETF metrics remain strong. Since early 2024, Bitcoin ETFs have recorded more than $60 billion in net inflows, and cumulative trading volume passed $1.5 trillion.
BlackRock’s IBIT now holds more than half of the U.S. Bitcoin ETF market. Other institutions also increased their positions. Al Warda Investments raised its IBIT holdings to 7.96 million shares worth $517.6 million, reflecting a 230% rise since June.
