Bitcoin News Today: Harvard Allocates $116M to BlackRock Bitcoin ETF Exceeding Tech Stock Holdings

Harvard and Brown Universities have significantly increased their Bitcoin exposure through BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), with Harvard allocating $116 million to the ETF as of July 30, equivalent to 1.9 million shares. This represents one of the university’s largest public holdings, surpassing its investments in major tech stocks like Nvidia and Meta, and coming close to its stake in Amazon and Microsoft [1][2]. Harvard’s investment is 8% of its reported U.S.-listed assets, indicating a strategic move toward institutional-grade crypto exposure [1].

Brown University also reported a doubling of its Bitcoin ETF holdings, increasing its IBIT position from 105,000 shares in March to 212,500 shares by July, valued at $13 million. The shift from the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) to IBIT highlights a growing institutional interest in Bitcoin-linked products among elite universities [6].

The move by both universities is part of a broader trend where institutional investors are favoring regulated and liquid vehicles like ETFs for digital asset exposure. BlackRock’s IBIT has become one of the largest ETFs globally, with over $86 billion in net assets as of early August 2025. Harvard’s allocation coincides with favorable regulatory developments, including the SEC’s approval of a tenfold increase in options contracts for derivatives-linked ETFs such as IBIT, which is expected to enhance trading activity and market depth [7].

Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas noted that while these positions are substantial in the context of ETFs, they remain relatively small compared to the overall endowment portfolios of the universities. Nevertheless, Harvard’s decision reflects a more pragmatic and institutional approach to cryptocurrency compared to other university endowments [1]. The growing inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs, totaling $403 million in a three-day span, with nearly $360 million flowing into IBIT alone, further highlight the increasing acceptance of crypto assets in traditional investment frameworks [1].

These developments suggest that institutions are beginning to integrate Bitcoin into their portfolios through regulated channels, rather than direct custody of digital coins. If the trend continues, it could lead to a significant inflow of institutional capital into the Bitcoin market, potentially reshaping demand and price dynamics in the broader crypto ecosystem [5][7].

Source:

[1] Harvard and Brown Universities Increase Bitcoin ETF Holdings, Coinpaper, https://coinpaper.com/10437/harvard-and-brown-universities-boost-bitcoin-etf-holdings-significantly

[2] Harvard holds $117M in BlackRock's Spot Bitcoin ETF, Mitrade, https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-1025858-20250809

[4] Harvard University's Endowment Invests $117m in Bitcoin, AInvest, https://www.ainvest.com/news/harvard-university-endowment-invests-117m-bitcoin-etf-surpassing-stakes-google-nvidia-2508/

[5] Harvard Enters the Crypto Market With BlackRock's Bitcoin, FastBull, https://m.fastbull.com/en/news-detail/harvard-enters-the-crypto-market-with-blackrocks-bitcoin-news_6100_0_2025_3_7014_3

[6] Brown University dumped its EWJ (iShares MSCI Japan ETF) to double its Bitcoin Stake to $13 Million via BlackRock ETF, Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/Buttcoin/comments/1mluwbw/brown_university_dumped_its_ewj_ishares_msci/

[7] Harvard Purchases $116.6M of BlackRock's Spot Bitcoin, CryptoNinjas, https://www.cryptoninjas.net/news/harvard-purchases-116-6m-of-blackrocks-spot-bitcoin-etf-in-major-crypto-investment/