Harvard Bets Big on Bitcoin: $442M ETF Shake-Up

Harvard’s endowment, ever so respectable and occasionally reckless in the name of progress, has splashed out on Bitcoin via the iShares Bitcoin Trust. The number? about $442.8 million. It’s more than their Alphabet stake and more than their gold hold, which is exactly the kind of math that makes accountants charge their glasses and sigh dramatically.

Harvard Triples Stake in iShares Bitcoin Trust

Harvard Management Company, the grown-up behind the curtain of the university’s funds, has tripled its stake in the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) to roughly $442.8 million, translating to about 6.8 million IBIT shares. Harvard now sits among the fund’s top 20 holders-because apparently you can’t resist a regulated midlife crisis.

The move increases its exposure to Bitcoin through a regulated ETF structure, which is basically finance’s way of saying, “We’ll dip a toe in the crypto sea without actually diving in.”

IBIT is managed by BlackRock and tracks the price of Bitcoin. Spot Bitcoin ETFs were approved in the United States earlier this year, offering institutions a way to get price exposure without slinging coins in their living rooms.

Bitcoin ETF Position Surpasses Alphabet and Gold

Harvard’s disclosed holdings show a larger allocation to IBIT than to Alphabet Inc., valued at about $114 million. The university still holds SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) – roughly $235.1 million – but the Bitcoin ETF stake is nearly double the gold allocation, which is the kind of shift you notice when you’re scrolling through a portfolio in a quiet, very serious room.

🏛️🚨 HARVARD HOLDS MORE ETFs THAN ANY OTHER STOCK

Harvard University now holds a larger public position in Bitcoin ETFs than in shares of Alphabet Inc.

Harvard Management Company tripled its stake in iShares Bitcoin Trust ($IBIT), making it the…

– CryptosRus (@CryptosR_Us)

The university also holds shares of SPDR Gold Trust (GLD). That position sits at roughly $235.1 million, making the Bitcoin ETF stake nearly double the gold allocation.

Public filings reflect only a slice of Harvard’s total endowment. The full portfolio includes private investments and alternative assets, with this filing focusing on U.S. listed equity positions.

Related Reading: Bitcoin Hits 68K as Trader Takes Partial Profits

Institutional Interest in Bitcoin ETFs

  • Large institutions have increased exposure to Bitcoin ETFs since their launch. Universities, pension funds, and asset managers are reporting positions.
  • These funds trade on major exchanges and follow standard reporting rules.
  • Bitcoin ETFs provide daily liquidity, price transparency, and reduce custody and operational risks linked to direct crypto ownership.
  • This structure has drawn interest from traditional finance participants.
  • Harvard’s allocation comes as Bitcoin ETFs record steady inflows; public filings will provide further updates in future quarters.

Public filings reflect only a portion of Harvard’s total assets, but the headline is clear: Bitcoin is now a bigger public bet for Harvard than Alphabet, and that’s the kind of plot twist you didn’t see coming during finals week.

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2026-02-13 14:11