Bitcoin News Today: Harvard Allocates 8% of Listed Assets to Bitcoin, Surpassing Gold Holdings

Harvard University has made a significant shift in its investment strategy, according to its latest portfolio disclosure. The university's management firm, Harvard Management Company (HMC), reported a $117 million stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) as of the end of the second quarter. This position, representing over 1.9 million shares, accounts for about 8% of the $1.4 billion in U.S.-listed assets disclosed in the filing [1]. Notably, the Bitcoin exposure now surpasses the university's gold holdings, which were valued at approximately $102 million during the same period [1].

The inclusion of Bitcoin in this manner represents a major milestone for the asset class. While Harvard had previously engaged with digital assets through venture funds and token sales, this is the first time it has explicitly placed Bitcoin above gold in its public reporting [1]. This move signals a shift toward recognizing Bitcoin as a legitimate, mainstream portfolio component rather than an experimental or speculative holding. The exposure is delivered via a regulated financial product, which may offer greater stability and transparency compared to direct cryptocurrency ownership [1].

The filing, however, only includes U.S.-listed securities and not the full endowment, which remains largely undisclosed. Nevertheless, this disclosure is one of the clearest indicators to date that institutional investors are increasingly considering Bitcoin as part of a strategic, diversified portfolio [1]. Harvard’s approach appears to be in line with broader trends in institutional finance, where digital assets are being evaluated for their potential as a hedge against inflation and macroeconomic uncertainty [1].

The university’s investment in IBIT is part of a broader strategy that also includes exposure to major technology companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet, which remain among its largest public holdings [1]. While Harvard has not disclosed the exact percentage of Bitcoin within its overall endowment, the positioning of the asset ahead of gold suggests a meaningful reassessment of its long-term investment framework [1].

This development comes at a time of increasing institutional adoption of Bitcoin, with major asset managers and pension funds exploring similar allocations. Harvard’s decision is likely to draw attention from both investors and regulators, as the implications of treating digital assets as a core component of institutional portfolios continue to unfold [1].

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Sources:

[1] Coindoo - [https://coindoo.com/harvard-university-puts-bitcoin-ahead-of-gold-in-latest-portfolio-disclosure/](https://coindoo.com/harvard-university-puts-bitcoin-ahead-of-gold-in-latest-portfolio-disclosure/)