Emre Yumlu 
Harvard University has taken an unexpected step that is resonating across traditional finance circles. Newly published 13F filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reveal that the university has significantly expanded its position in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). Over the most recent quarter, Harvard raised its IBIT holdings by an impressive 257%, bringing its total to 6.8 million shares valued at roughly $442.9 million as of September 30.
A Rare Shift Among Long-Standing Institutional Investors
Major university endowments have historically kept their distance from exchange-traded products—especially newer, more volatile ones tied to digital assets. That is why Harvard’s decision is drawing so much attention. For analysts, such a substantial increase from one of the most conservative and influential institutional investors signals meaningful validation for Bitcoin ETFs.
While the IBIT allocation accounts for only about 1% of Harvard’s total endowment, the absolute size of the position places the university among the largest holders of the fund. This elevation into the upper ranks underscores how rapidly institutional sentiment toward crypto-related products is shifting.
Portfolio Rankings Rewritten
The filing also reveals a striking detail: IBIT now stands as Harvard’s largest reported position. The ETF surpasses long-dominant holdings including Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Nvidia and even the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD). IBIT represents approximately 20.97% of Harvard’s disclosed portfolio—far outweighing its other investments.
Harvard’s increased exposure wasn’t limited to Bitcoin. The university also expanded its gold position dramatically. Its GLD holdings almost doubled—rising 98.62% to 661,391 shares valued at $235 million. Meanwhile, Harvard’s stake in Nvidia amounted to 583,931 shares worth about $109 million, highlighting continued interest in the broader tech and AI ecosystem.
Preparing for a New Market Landscape
Taken together, these shifts suggest a strategic rebalancing. By leaning into both Bitcoin and gold, Harvard appears to be positioning itself defensively while simultaneously preparing for long-term transformations in monetary systems and technology.
In essence, one of the world’s most influential endowments is signaling that the financial landscape is changing—and that it intends not only to adapt, but to stay ahead of that change.
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