Harvard Endowment Takes Rare Leap Into Bitcoin

Harvard University's endowment has announced a substantial investment of $443 million in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), marking a significant move as it represents 20% of the endowment's U.S.-listed public equity holdings. This investment is noteworthy given that institutional investors typically steer clear of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and prefer private equity and real estate. As of the third quarter of 2025, Harvard holds 6.8 million shares of IBIT, making it the largest known equity position in this fund, which has nearly $75 billion in net assets despite a recent decline in bitcoin's price. With a total endowment exceeding $55 billion, this investment accounts for less than 1% of its total assets, yet places Harvard among the top 20 holders of IBIT. This strategic pivot comes after bitcoin experienced a drop of over 5% in value, suggesting a bold stance in the current market environment.

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