Core Viewpoint - The recent shift by Harvard's endowment fund from Bitcoin to Ethereum highlights a growing interest in diversifying cryptocurrency investments, particularly in the context of current market conditions where Bitcoin and Ethereum have seen significant declines from their all-time highs [2][3][5]. Group 1: Harvard's Investment Strategy - Harvard's endowment fund, valued at $50 billion, has reduced its Bitcoin holdings by 21%, now owning 5.35 million shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust worth $265.8 million [3]. - The fund has initiated a new position in Ethereum, acquiring 3.87 million shares of the iShares Ethereum Trust valued at approximately $86.8 million, marking its first investment in Ethereum [3][2]. Group 2: Market Analysis - Bitcoin has decreased by 25% this year and is down 47% from its all-time high, while Ethereum has experienced a 35% decline this year and a 61% drop from its peak, indicating that Ethereum may be oversold and potentially attractive to investors [6][5]. - The move to Ethereum could reflect a broader trend among institutional investors seeking diversified exposure to the cryptocurrency market, as the availability of various crypto ETFs facilitates this diversification [5]. Group 3: Potential for Ethereum - Ethereum's ability to offer "staking yield" presents a significant advantage over Bitcoin, which does not provide this feature due to its proof-of-work structure, potentially making Ethereum a more appealing investment option for generating passive income [7].

Group 1 - Harvard disclosed a reduction of 1.46 million shares in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), decreasing its position to approximately $265 million [2] - Simultaneously, Harvard opened a new position of 3,873,044 shares in BlackRock's iShares Ethereum Trust, valued at roughly $86.8 million [2] - The total combined spot crypto ETF exposure for Harvard at the end of the quarter exceeded $352 million [2] Group 2 - Harvard initially disclosed a $116 million position in IBIT in August 2025, which tripled to around $350 million by November before the recent reduction [3] - The move to sell Bitcoin and invest in Ethereum suggests a strategic shift, with analysts indicating that ETH may be undervalued compared to BTC [4] - The decision reflects a broader trend where Ethereum is increasingly recognized as a significant asset alongside Bitcoin, with BlackRock showing more interest in ETH [5][7] Group 3 - Major institutions are now monitoring the BTC/ETH ratio to inform their portfolio decisions, indicating confidence in the longevity and potential growth of both assets [7] - Bitcoin is viewed primarily as a store of value, while Ethereum is considered a productive asset with multiple return drivers, including its role in smart contracts and infrastructure [8]

RT James Hunt (@humanjets)ICYMI: Here's a quick news recap from today's Asia & EMEA sessions @TheBlock__ 👇💰 Harvard Management Company reduced its iShares Bitcoin Trust holdings in the fourth quarter and opened a new $86.8 million position in the iShares Ethereum Trust.🤖 deBridge launched Model Context Protocol, allowing AI agents and developer tools to execute swaps, bridging, and multi-step transactions across EVM chains and Solana.🇦🇪 Animoca Brands received a VASP licence from Dubai's VARA, authorizing t ...

Harvard Management Company reported a reduction in its holdings of the iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ: IBIT) while simultaneously establishing a new position in BlackRock’s Ethereum-based fund. The changes were disclosed in a 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. The university endowment ended the fourth quarter with 5,353,612 shares of the BlackRock-issued bitcoin fund. The position was valued at $265,806,836 as of the filing date. This represent ...

⚡️ UPDATE: Harvard reduced IBIT holdings in Q4 by 21% but added $86.8M to iShares Ethereum Trust.Bitcoin still remains its largest disclosed position at $265.8M. https://t.co/PuuLTkFKnc ...

Investors pulled another $544.94 million from U.S. spot bitcoin BTC exchange-traded funds on Wednesday, marking a second consecutive day of net outflows, according to data from SoSoValue. BlackRock's IBIT led the daily outflows with $373.44 million exiting the product. Fidelity's FBTC and Grayscale's GBTC followed with outflows of $86.44 million and $41.77 million, respectively. Funds managed by Ark & 21Shares, VanEck, and Franklin Templeton also reported outflows. The selling pressure came as bitcoin ...

Group 1 - Gold's price has surged above $2,800 per ounce, attracting investor attention away from Bitcoin and Ethereum, which have remained stagnant despite ETF hype [1][2] - Gold ETFs have seen significant inflows, pulling in over $10 billion in the first half of 2025, indicating a strong demand for gold as a safe-haven asset during times of inflation and geopolitical tensions [2][3] - The shift in capital from cryptocurrencies to gold suggests that large institutional investors prefer to allocate their limited cash to gold during periods of market fear, leading to a slowdown in crypto price movements [5][6] Group 2 - Bitcoin and Ethereum are now included in regulated ETFs from major firms like BlackRock and Fidelity, making them more accessible to investors, which could lead to a future capital rotation back into these assets once market fear subsides [7] - The current strength of gold does not indicate a failure of Bitcoin; rather, it reflects a temporary preference for stability among investors, with the potential for a future rebound in crypto prices as market conditions improve [7]

Core Insights - Ethereum continues to build long-term value despite short-term price struggles, with ongoing core upgrades and adoption milestones being overshadowed by market volatility [1] - The Shanghai upgrade in 2023 resolved major liquidity issues by allowing users to unstake and withdraw ETH freely, with only 5% of validators exiting, and no anticipated mass sell-off occurring [2] - Recent network upgrades, including the Fusaka upgrade, have significantly increased Ethereum's transaction activity and reduced costs, with daily transactions reaching a record 2.9 million in January 2026 [3] Future Developments - The upcoming Glamsterdam upgrade is expected to enhance execution efficiency and proposer-builder separation, followed by the Hegota upgrade targeting state growth management and long-term node sustainability [4] - The Ethereum Foundation is investing in post-quantum cryptography research, allocating $2 million in prizes to ensure future security [4] Institutional Interest - Institutional interest in Ethereum has been growing, with the launch of Spot Ethereum ETFs in 2024 providing a regulated pathway for traditional finance to gain ETH exposure [5] - In early 2026, 82% of surveyed institutional investors indicated plans to increase their ETH exposure, with significant purchases made by firms like Bitmine, which added over $116 million in ETH [6] - More than 35 major players have expanded their deployments on the Ethereum network, further solidifying its position as the preferred base layer for tokenizing real-world assets [6]

Core Insights - BlackRock has begun reallocating some of its crypto investments from Bitcoin to Ethereum, indicating a strategic shift in its asset management approach [1][2] - The asset manager's increased investment in Ethereum over the past year suggests a growing confidence in ETH's potential compared to BTC [1][2] Investment Trends - BlackRock's iShares Ethereum Trust experienced significant inflows, with 80,768 ETH added last month, representing 1.5% of all ETH in circulation [2] - In Q2, BlackRock invested $2.3 billion into ETH spot ETFs, compared to $1.8 billion for BTC, reflecting a deliberate pivot towards Ethereum [3] Market Dynamics - BlackRock views Ethereum's evolving ecosystem as a hedge against Bitcoin's stagnation, citing lower volatility during market downturns [3] - During the recent market correction, ETH's decline was 45%, while BTC fell by 55%, showcasing ETH's relative stability [3] Institutional Sentiment - BlackRock's research indicates that Ethereum's deflationary mechanics post-Merge could enhance its scarcity, potentially leading to a 20% to 30% premium over Bitcoin in the next six months [4] - CoinShares data shows that institutional inflows are aligning with BlackRock's investment trends, suggesting a broader market shift towards Ethereum [4] Comparative Analysis - Bitcoin, often referred to as "digital gold," maintains a strong position as a store of value, with 70% of corporate treasuries still favoring it [5][6] - The fundamental differences between Bitcoin and Ethereum highlight their distinct roles in the cryptocurrency market, with Bitcoin designed as a decentralized cash alternative and Ethereum evolving into a more complex ecosystem [6]

Core Insights - The iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) is the fastest-growing ETF, approaching $100 billion in assets within two years of its launch, indicating strong demand for digital assets [1][2] - BlackRock is the dominant player in the crypto ETF market, with IBIT being the most profitable fund for the company, generating approximately $240 million in revenue [2][3] - The recent regulatory changes by the SEC are expected to lead to an influx of new digital asset ETFs, although investor interest in various crypto products remains uncertain [3] Company Insights - BlackRock, managing around $12.5 trillion in assets, leads the crypto ETF category, with its closest competitor, Fidelity's Wise Origin (FBTC), being only a quarter of IBIT's size [2] - BlackRock has not indicated plans to expand into other digital assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, despite its significant market presence [2] - The iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF has been filed by BlackRock, showcasing its continued interest in expanding its crypto offerings [5] Industry Insights - The crypto ETF market is experiencing growth, with the potential for numerous new products following the SEC's recent regulatory changes [3] - Other crypto tokens lack the same level of global adoption and value stability as Bitcoin, which is viewed as a strong store of value [4] - New developments in the crypto ETF space include Rex-Osprey's ETFs with staking capabilities and S&P Global's introduction of a Digital Markets 50 Index [5]