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Harvard University Allocates Over $100 Million to Bitcoin ETF
Harvard University – Harvard Management Company, the prestigious institution responsible for overseeing the university’s massive endowment, has made headlines with its significant entry into the cryptocurrency market through BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF.
Massive Bitcoin Exposure Revealed
According to a Friday filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Harvard disclosed holding approximately 1.9 million shares of the iShares Bitcoin ETF as of June 30. This substantial position was valued at more than $116 million, positioning it as the fund’s fifth-largest investment for the reporting period.
The Bitcoin investment ranks behind only major tech giants including Microsoft, Amazon, travel technology company Booking Holdings, and Meta in Harvard’s portfolio allocation.
America’s Largest University Endowment
Harvard’s endowment fund reached $53.2 billion as of June 30, 2024, maintaining its position as the largest among US universities, surpassing Yale, Stanford, and Princeton. This massive war chest provides the institution with significant investment flexibility and risk tolerance.
Robert Kaplan, Martin Marshall professor of management practice in business administration, previously explained the endowment’s strategy in a 2017 video, noting that “The endowment and its asset allocation is set up to anticipate you’re gonna have some volatile periods.”
Early Crypto Consideration and Growing Trend
While Harvard’s portfolio appeared to focus primarily on technology company investments in 2025, reports suggest the university had been considering cryptocurrency exposure since 2018. This patient approach has now materialized into substantial Bitcoin holdings.
The move follows a growing trend among university endowments. Emory University became one of the first significant US endowments to report digital asset ETF exposure in 2024, purchasing 2.7 million shares of the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust, valued at over $15 million at the time.
ETF Market Growth and Regulatory Support
The SEC approved BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF alongside 10 other funds in January 2024. Since approval, the fund has experienced remarkable growth, accumulating more than $86 billion in net assets as of Thursday, according to BlackRock’s data.
Recent regulatory developments continue supporting Bitcoin ETF growth. On Tuesday, the SEC announced it would increase allowed options contracts to 250,000 from 25,000 “for all ETFs with options,” including the iShares Bitcoin ETF. Market observers expect this move to further increase demand for cryptocurrency investment vehicles.
