The world’s wealthiest university significantly increased its position in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) during Q3, pushing its total exposure close to half a billion dollars — right before Bitcoin plunged over 30% from its all-time high.
The numbers behind the move
According to the latest 13F filing with the SEC, Harvard Management Company added millions of additional IBIT shares, bringing its holding to roughly 4.9 million shares valued at approximately $495 million as of September 30.
Unfortunate timing
The purchases were executed while Bitcoin traded near its record $109,000 level. Since then, Bitcoin has shed more than a third of its value and currently hovers around $92,000–$93,000, leaving Harvard with unrealized losses estimated between $150–170 million.
Harvard is not alone
Other Ivy League schools including Yale, Brown, and the University of Michigan also hold crypto exposure through ETFs and specialized funds, though none come close to Harvard’s scale.
Market and analyst reaction
While the timing has sparked widespread commentary across social media and financial forums, experts note that endowments of this size operate on multi-decade horizons with high risk tolerance. Many see the current correction as classic institutional accumulation.
Broader context
2025 has marked peak institutional adoption of Bitcoin, with sovereign wealth funds, pension plans, and even traditional giants like Vanguard opening the door to spot ETFs. Harvard’s $53+ billion endowment is simply the latest blue-chip name to embrace the asset class.
What comes next
The next round of 13F filings (due in February 2026) will reveal whether Harvard doubled down during the dip or trimmed its position. For now, its move reinforces the narrative that legacy institutions increasingly view Bitcoin as a long-term reserve asset — regardless of short-term volatility.
