Harvard University increased its exposure to Bitcoin in the third quarter by expanding its holdings in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, according to its latest SEC filing.
Harvard Management Company reported ownership of 6.8 million shares of the fund as of September 30. Three months earlier, the crew maintained 1.9 million shares. Based on end-of-quarter prices, the updated position was approximately $442.8 million.
Harvard’s endowment stands at 56.9 billion dollarsso the allocation remains modest in percentage terms. However, it reflects a clear shift in how one of the world’s largest academic investment funds is positioning itself toward Bitcoin-related financial products.
Other universities recorded similar adjustments. Brown University revealed a position in the same BlackRock vehicle, and Emory University also increased its Bitcoin-linked holdings.
The Emory Presentation Listed 1 million shares in Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust, valued at approx. $52 millionnearly double its volume from the previous quarter. The university also reported 4,450 shares on iShares Bitcoin Trust is worth around $289,000indicating that it is building exposure to multiple Bitcoin-focused products rather than relying on a single fund.
These updates came during a week of significant redemptions in spot Bitcoin ETFs. US-listed funds saw combined outflows of approximately $867 million on Thursday and an additional $462 million on Friday.
Bitcoin prices also came under pressure, falling from around $107,000 at the beginning of the week down $95,000 for Friday.
Even with the market decline and ETF withdrawals, quarterly disclosures from major US universities indicate that these institutions increased their Bitcoin-related holdings ahead of the volatility, reinforcing that their allocations are being driven by longer-term planning rather than short-term price movements.
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