- Harvard invests $116M in Bitcoin through BlackRock’s ETF.
- This marks fifth-largest endowment holding.
- Institutional interest in Bitcoin ETFs grows.
Harvard University has invested $116 million in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF, making bitcoin the fifth-largest asset in its endowment portfolio as disclosed in a June SEC filing.
This marks a significant step in institutional Bitcoin adoption, reflecting an increasing acceptance of cryptocurrencies in traditional investment portfolios.
Harvard University has invested $116 million in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT). This SEC filing reveals Bitcoin has become Harvard’s fifth-largest endowment holding as of June 2025.
The investment was executed by the Harvard Management Company, which oversees the endowment. No official statements have been provided by Harvard’s leadership or BlackRock executives regarding this significant allocation.
Harvard’s move places it as the 29th-largest institutional holder of IBIT. The growing ETF reflects rising institutional interest in Bitcoin, a trend mirrored by other universities like Brown and Emory. The investment underscores the increasing institutionalization of Bitcoin among U.S. academic endowments, following “The endowment and its asset allocation is set up to anticipate you’re gonna have some volatile periods,” Robert Kaplan, Professor, Harvard University said in a related commentary regarding investment strategies.
The investment underscores the increasing institutionalization of Bitcoin among U.S. academic endowments, following the SEC’s approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024.
SEC filings highlight the institutional momentum for Bitcoin, fostering broader acceptance.
Harvard’s allocation indicates potential financial impacts, supporting Bitcoin’s price and liquidity. The move aligns with a trend of regulated pathways for institutional Bitcoin exposure.
