1. Scale of investments
- Harvard University through its endowment (Harvard Management Company) invested $116 million in the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) from BlackRock, purchasing 1.9 million shares.
- This is the 5th largest position in the university's public portfolio, surpassing holdings in Alphabet and Nvidia.
2. Context and trends
- Institutional recognition: Harvard has joined Brown University and Emory, which have also invested in Bitcoin ETFs.
- Regulatory driver: Approval of spot ETFs by the SEC in January 2024 and the expansion of options limits (up to 250,000 contracts) have strengthened institutional confidence.
- Diversification strategy: Concurrently, the university invested $101 million in gold (SPDR Gold Trust), indicating a hedge against inflation risks.
3. Why is this important?
- A symbolic step: Harvard is the largest university fund in the U.S. ($53.2 billion). Its decision legitimizes Bitcoin as a strategic asset for conservative investors.
- Growth of BlackRock's ETF: IBIT has raised $86 billion in assets, becoming one of the most successful ETFs in history.
- Market impact: Such inflows support the price of BTC (at the time of publication - $117,300) and may accelerate the achievement of new ATHs.
4. Risks and criticism
- Volatility: A UCLA professor labeled Bitcoin a 'speculative asset with no fundamental value.'
- Portfolio share: $116 million is just 0.2% of Harvard's endowment, but a psychologically significant signal.
💡 What's next?
- Expect a chain reaction: Other universities and pension funds may follow suit.
- Price effect: The increase in institutional demand through ETFs reduces the supply of BTC on the market - a long-term bullish factor.
- Watch for:
- SEC decisions on new crypto ETFs (e.g., on Solana).
- Macroeconomic statistics (inflation, Fed rates), which influence risk appetite.
> Conclusion: Harvard has confirmed that Bitcoin is no longer an 'experiment,' but part of mainstream portfolios. This will accelerate the transition from 'early adopters' to mass institutional acceptance.
Data is current as of August 10, 2025. Sources: CoinTelegraph, CoinDesk, Yahoo Finance, Bitcoinist.