Harvard University has significantly expanded its investments in BlackRock’s Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (iShares Bitcoin Trust, IBIT), increasing its stake by more than 250% in the third quarter of 2025. By the end of September, the university owned 6.8 million shares of IBIT, valued at approximately $442.8 million.
This is reported by Business • Media
Bitcoin ETF Becomes Harvard’s Largest Position
According to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, IBIT has become the largest reported position in Harvard University’s investment portfolio for the quarter. The university first invested in IBIT in August 2025, acquiring 1.9 million shares for $116.6 million. However, by the third quarter, the investment volume had increased several times, indicating a growing interest in Bitcoin-based exchange products among large institutional investors.
“I just checked, and yes, $IBIT is now Harvard’s largest position in its 13F and the largest position increase in Q3. It’s extremely rare/difficult to get an endowment that bites on an ETF, especially Harvard or Yale; it’s as good a validation as an ETF can get. Nevertheless, half a billion is…” – Eric Balchunas.
University Portfolio: Bitcoin, Gold, and Technology
Analysts note that the participation of large long-term investment funds in crypto ETFs is extremely rare. Eric Balchunas from Bloomberg described such an investment as an important validation of the ETF’s quality, although it constitutes about 1% of Harvard’s total endowment. By the end of the quarter, the university became the 16th largest holder of IBIT shares among all investors in this product.
In addition to Bitcoin, Harvard continues to diversify its portfolio by increasing investments in traditional assets. In particular, the university’s position in the SPDR Gold Shares fund nearly doubled, reaching 661,000 shares worth over $235 million. Among new acquisitions are shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company worth $59.1 million and fintech company Klarna worth $16.8 million.
Alongside this, Harvard maintains significant investments in key technology giants, including Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet. Experts emphasize that this strategy combines highly liquid IT stocks with promising digital assets, enhancing the portfolio’s potential.
Earlier, it was reported that over $1.1 billion in investments were withdrawn from the Bitcoin ETF during the period from November 10 to 14, 2025.