Harvard University boosts its BlackRock Bitcoin ETF investment to $442.8m

Core Insights - Harvard University has significantly increased its holdings in Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with a nearly 260% increase in its investment [1][3] - The university's investment in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) is valued at $442.8 million as of the latest filing [2] - Harvard's investment in Bitcoin ETFs surpasses its combined holdings in major tech stocks like Meta, NVIDIA, and Alphabet [3] Investment Details - As of September 30, Harvard owned 6.81 million shares of IBIT, marking its first investment in the second quarter of FY2025 with a position of $116.7 million [3] - IBIT represents Harvard's largest ETF purchase and its most significant single investment in terms of dollar value [4] - In addition to Bitcoin, Harvard has also invested in gold ETFs, acquiring 661,391 shares in SPDR Gold Shares, valued at $235 million [4][5] Market Context - The broader trend shows that pension funds in the U.S. have started to invest in Bitcoin ETFs, although sell-offs have become more frequent [6] - Notably, Wisconsin's Investment Board sold its entire $300 million holdings in the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF earlier this year [7] - Recent data indicates that Bitcoin ETF flows have decreased by approximately $2.3 billion from their peak [7]