Harvard Management Company has reduced its stake in the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF by roughly a fifth in the fourth quarter and started a new position with a spot Ethereum ETF. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the previous quarter, the endowment manager reported lower holdings of the BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust and disclosed a first-time position in the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF. It held 5,353,612 shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust as of December 31, down from 6 ...

Core Insights - Pilgrim Partners Asia Pte Ltd sold 620,000 shares of the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (NASDAQ:ETHA) for an estimated value of $16.21 million, reflecting a reduction in their position during the fourth quarter [1][2] - The value of the ETHA position decreased by $19.63 million at quarter-end, influenced by both the share sales and price changes [2] - Following the sale, Pilgrim Partners Asia's stake in ETHA dropped to 0.11% of their 13F reportable AUM [3] ETF Overview - The iShares Ethereum Trust ETF has an AUM of $10.3 billion and was priced at $17.50 as of February 2, representing a one-year price change of -14.76% [4] - The ETF has significantly underperformed compared to the S&P 500, which gained approximately 15% over the same period [3] Investment Strategy - The ETF aims to provide exposure to the price performance of ether (ETH) by holding ether directly, allowing investors to track the value of the underlying digital asset without direct ownership [7] - The fund's portfolio primarily consists of ether, designed to closely mirror the spot price of ETH with minimal diversification [7] - The ETF operates as a grantor trust, typical of digital asset funds, although detailed expense ratio information is not provided [7]

Core Viewpoint - Apeiron Capital Limited has sold its entire position in the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (NASDAQ:ETHA) for approximately $8.99 million during the fourth quarter of 2025, indicating a strategic shift away from cryptocurrency investments [1][2]. Group 1: Transaction Details - Apeiron Capital sold all 285,400 shares of the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF, resulting in a net position change of $8.99 million for the quarter [2]. - The fund's ETHA stake is now zero, reflecting a complete divestment from this investment [2]. Group 2: ETF Performance and Market Context - As of January 30, 2026, ETHA shares were priced at $20.17, down 17.7% over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 by 32.0 percentage points [3]. - The one-year losses for ETHA have exceeded 30%, driven by broader volatility in the cryptocurrency market [3][9]. Group 3: ETF Overview and Strategy - The iShares Ethereum Trust ETF has assets under management (AUM) of $10.3 billion, providing a regulated vehicle for investors to gain exposure to ether without managing digital wallets [4][5]. - The ETF aims to closely track the value of ether while minimizing operational complexities for investors, targeting both institutional and retail investors [7]. Group 4: Implications of the Transaction - Selling out of the Ethereum ETF does not necessarily reflect a negative outlook on blockchain technology but rather a decision to allocate capital where it can be more effective [8]. - Apeiron's remaining portfolio is focused on operating businesses, suggesting a strategic pivot towards investments with more predictable fundamentals rather than speculative assets [10].

Core Viewpoint - Nasdaq is seeking SEC approval to remove restrictions on options trading for crypto ETFs, which could enhance market accessibility and trading fairness for investors [1][3]. Group 1: Nasdaq's Proposal - Nasdaq filed a form with the SEC to amend options position and exercise limit rules for certain crypto assets [1]. - The proposed rule change aims to eliminate the previous 25,000 position and exercise limit restrictions for options on crypto ETFs [3]. - Nasdaq is requesting immediate effectiveness of the proposal, asking the SEC to waive the standard 30-day delay [4]. Group 2: Impact on Crypto ETFs - If approved, the rule change will affect various crypto funds, including those linked to Bitcoin and Ethereum launched by major asset managers like BlackRock and Fidelity [2]. - As of January 22, spot Bitcoin ETFs have total net inflows of $56.6 billion, while spot Ether ETFs have $12.34 billion in inflows [4]. Group 3: Market Implications - Nasdaq believes the change will promote "just" and "equitable" trading principles, eliminate discrimination, and foster a free and open market [3]. - The exchange asserts that the proposal does not impose significant burdens on competition and aims to protect investors [4].

Group 1: Ethereum's Market Position - Ethereum is leading the tokenization of real-world assets, holding 66% of all tokenized assets, significantly ahead of Binance's BNB Chain at 10% [1] - Other competitors include Solana at 5%, Arbitrum at 4%, Stellar at 4%, and Avalanche at 3%, all of which have a combined market share well below Ethereum's [1] Group 2: Price Performance and Institutional Interest - Despite Ethereum's price being around $3,000, nearly 40% below its all-time high, Wall Street is making significant investments in Ethereum [3] - JPMorgan selected Ethereum for its first tokenized money market fund, valued at $9 trillion, and Morgan Stanley filed for an Ethereum exchange-traded fund [4] - BlackRock's iShares Ethereum Trust ETF has $11 billion in assets under management, with similar ETFs from Grayscale and Fidelity also reporting billions in AUM [4] Group 3: Corporate Investment Trends - Digital asset treasury firms are actively purchasing and staking Ethereum, with Bitmine acquiring an additional $100 million, adding to its $13 billion holdings [5] - Corporate players are typically long-term holders, and their acquisition of Ethereum may reduce liquid supply, potentially supporting price increases [5] Group 4: Broader Market Outlook - BlackRock's 2026 outlook also anticipates growth in the artificial intelligence and defense sectors, suggesting that the ongoing AI revolution has significant implications [6] - The report indicates that while some investors may take profits in AI companies, the overall data does not suggest a bubble [6]

Core Insights - The Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) and the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) provide investors with access to Bitcoin and Ether, respectively, through traditional brokerage accounts, catering to high-risk tolerance investors [2][3] Fund Overview - Both FBTC and ETHA have an expense ratio of 0.25% and do not distribute dividends, making cost and yield non-factors in differentiating the two ETFs [4][5] - FBTC has $18.2 billion in assets under management (AUM), while ETHA has $10.0 billion [4] Performance Metrics - Over the past year, FBTC has returned -16.1%, while ETHA has returned -24.9% [4] - FBTC has a maximum drawdown of -32.64% over five years, compared to ETHA's -64.02% [6] - A $1,000 investment in FBTC would have grown to $1,804 over five years, while the same investment in ETHA would have decreased to $800 [6] Asset Composition - ETHA is fully invested in Ether, with 100% of its portfolio in Ether and negligible cash [7] - FBTC primarily holds Bitcoin, with 99.98% of its assets in Bitcoin [8] Investment Implications - ETHA has experienced greater losses and higher drawdowns compared to FBTC over the past year [10] - Both ETFs offer a way for investors to gain exposure to specific cryptocurrencies without the risks associated with cryptocurrency exchanges [11]

Core Insights - Russian investors are increasingly engaging with domestic financial products linked to Bitcoin and Ethereum, with total investments in cryptocurrency futures on the Moscow Exchange exceeding $27 million [1][2] - The central bank reports that private investments in cryptocurrency-related financial instruments in Russia amount to approximately $48 million, indicating a growing trend towards crypto adoption as investors seek alternatives to international markets [3][4] Investment Trends - The majority of investors are creating small portfolios, with individual investments averaging up to $6,430, while larger investors hold positions exceeding $1.3 million [2] - The Moscow Exchange launched its first futures contracts based on the BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF in early June, followed by a similar product for the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF in July [3][4] Market Dynamics - The central bank has observed a decline in the volume of Russia-linked trade on overseas crypto exchanges, despite an overall increase in crypto adoption within the country [4] - Russian citizens are estimated to hold $7.7 billion in Bitcoin, nearly $2 billion in Ethereum, and $2.7 billion in altcoins, reflecting significant domestic crypto holdings [5] Monitoring and Regulation - The central bank utilizes a tool called Transparent Blockchain to monitor cryptocurrency trading activities among Russian citizens, analyzing fund flows to major centralized exchanges [6][7] - The bank tracks transactions on various exchanges popular with Russian users, including Binance and Bitfinex, but acknowledges a potential rise in the use of decentralized exchanges [7]

Cryptocurrency Market Overview - Bitcoin has entered a bear market, down over 20% from its all-time high of $126,272 reached in October, and has fallen below $100,000 [1] - Major Bitcoin ETFs, including iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund, and Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF, have each dropped more than 8% this week [2] - Ethereum has decreased by 35.82% from its all-time intraday high of $4,955.23 in August 2025, with related ETFs dropping nearly 10% this week [4] ETF Performance - iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) last traded at $53.48, down 3.80% [3] - Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) last traded at $82.18, down 3.80% [3] - Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF (GBTC) last traded at $73.78, down 3.78% [3] - iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) last traded at $23.69, down 1.04% [5] - Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust (ETHE) last traded at $25.75, down 0.92% [5] - Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH) last traded at $31.30, down 0.95% [5] Market Sentiment - Negative sentiment towards cryptocurrencies has persisted, with significant outflows from Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, totaling $932 million and $438 million respectively [3] - The probability of a Federal Reserve rate cut next month has decreased to 45%, with 54% of market watchers expecting no change [5]

Core Insights - The future of Ethereum and its associated ETF, iShares Ethereum Trust ETF, remains uncertain but shows potential for growth and development in the coming years [2][3] Ethereum Developments - Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, outlined plans for the cryptocurrency by 2030, focusing on lower usage fees and faster execution of smart contracts [4] - The Ethereum network aims to enhance scalability to handle significant workloads efficiently [4] - The scaling efforts include improvements not only to Ethereum itself but also to Layer-2 (L2) blockchains that enhance the network's performance [5] User Experience Enhancements - The integration of L2 platforms is expected to improve user experience by making it easier to move data and app links between different systems [5] - The goal is to make Ethereum-based applications as ubiquitous and user-friendly as popular programming languages like Java, Python, and C [6] ETF Insights - The iShares Ethereum Trust ETF provides a way for investors to gain exposure to Ethereum within tax-advantaged retirement accounts, such as IRAs [7] - The ETF structure also makes Ethereum accessible to institutional investors who may be hesitant to hold cryptocurrencies directly [7]

Group 1 - The article discusses the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (NASDAQ: ETHA), which is designed to track the performance of Ethereum [1] - The focus is on identifying high-quality companies with strong balance sheets and shareholder-friendly policies [1] - The investment approach is long-only with a long-term focus, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative measures [1]