Bitcoin News Today: Harvard Allocates 8 of Endowment to Bitcoin ETF Amid Institutional Shift

Harvard University has made a $116.7 million investment in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), a spot Bitcoin ETF, as disclosed in a recent 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission [1][2]. The endowment held 1,906,000 shares of the ETF as of June 30, 2025, representing approximately 8% of its $1.4 billion in publicly listed assets [1][2]. This allocation places the Bitcoin ETF on par with its investments in major technology firms like Meta and Alphabet and exceeds its holdings in the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) [1][2].

The investment reflects a broader shift among institutional investors toward regulated digital assets. Harvard’s engagement with the cryptocurrency space has gradually evolved, beginning with early support for crypto-focused venture funds and token purchases in 2018 and 2019 [1]. However, those prior exposures were smaller and less transparent than the current ETF-based allocation, which marks a more strategic and transparent inclusion of Bitcoin in the endowment's portfolio [1].

BlackRock’s IBIT, approved by the SEC in January 2024, has experienced rapid growth, accumulating over $86 billion in assets under management by early August 2025 [1]. The ETF has also gained regulatory momentum, with the SEC approving a tenfold increase in options contracts for ETFs including IBIT on August 6, potentially enhancing liquidity and institutional trading activity [1]. These developments suggest growing confidence in the regulatory and market infrastructure surrounding Bitcoin.

Harvard’s investment is part of a trend among institutional investors, with Emory University previously disclosing a $15 million position in the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust and others showing increased interest in ETFs over direct custody of digital assets [1]. The move by Harvard signals institutional confidence in the legitimacy and regulatory clarity of Bitcoin as an investable asset class and could encourage other high-profile endowments to follow a similar strategy [1].

Although the investment constitutes a relatively small portion of Harvard’s $53.2 billion endowment, it carries significant symbolic weight. By allocating to a Bitcoin ETF alongside blue-chip equities, Harvard has effectively elevated digital assets to a position of parity with traditional assets in institutional portfolios [1]. This milestone may lead to further institutional adoption and could inject substantial capital into the Bitcoin market via regulated and transparent channels, reinforcing its status as a core asset class [1].

Source:

[1] Harvard Invests $116M in Bitcoin ETF, Marking Bold Shift in Endowment Strategy (https://www.fxleaders.com/news/2025/08/09/harvard-invests-116m-in-bitcoin-etf-marking-bold-shift-in-endowment-strategy/)

[2] Harvard discloses $116.7M exposure to Bitcoin via BlackRock's IBIT ETF (https://cryptoslate.com/harvard-discloses-116-7m-exposure-to-bitcoin-via-blackrocks-ibit-etf/)