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Harvard Makes Bitcoin ETF Its Largest Public Holding After 257% Q3 Increase

The rare ETF purchase by a leading endowment signals a tilt toward alternative hedges, pairing regulated bitcoin exposure with a larger gold stake.

Overview

  • Harvard’s 13F shows 6.81 million shares of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust as of Sept. 30, a 257% jump quarter over quarter worth about $442.8 million at the time.
  • IBIT is now Harvard’s biggest disclosed U.S. equity position, representing just over 20% of its reported public equities while remaining under 1% of the total endowment.
  • The endowment nearly doubled its SPDR Gold Shares position to 661,391 shares valued around $235 million, reinforcing a move toward alternative hedges.
  • The disclosure landed during a stretch of heavy spot bitcoin ETF redemptions and price volatility, with outflows reported at roughly $867 million Thursday and $462 million Friday.
  • Analysts called the move significant for institutional adoption, ranking Harvard among IBIT’s top 20 holders, as other universities such as Emory and Brown also expanded bitcoin ETF exposure.