Harvard Invests in Bitcoin ETF — A ‘Big Deal’ According to Bloomberg Expert
Why Harvard’s Bitcoin Investment Is a Big Deal
Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas has weighed in on Harvard University’s investment in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF (IBIT), calling it a “big deal” due to the notoriously cautious nature of endowment funds when it comes to ETFs.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Balchunas explained that endowments are among the hardest institutions to attract to ETFs, noting they rarely “bite.” His comments came after an SEC filing revealed that both Harvard and Brown University have taken positions in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF.
Harvard’s endowment now holds approximately $116.7 million in IBIT, making it the 29th-largest holder among more than 1,300 entities. Balchunas described the investment as “pretty sizable” from an ETF perspective, though he added that it’s still “microscopic” relative to Harvard’s total endowment, which exceeds $50 billion.
The analyst also noted that it’s still unclear whether Harvard is engaging in a larger trade or arbitrage strategy involving the ETF. Nevertheless, he reaffirmed that endowments are typically skeptical toward ETFs, making this allocation particularly notable.
Institutional Interest in Bitcoin Continues to Grow
Harvard’s move is part of a broader trend of increasing institutional adoption of Bitcoin ETFs. For example, the Michigan Pension Fund recently disclosed an increase in its exposure to Bitcoin, raising its investment in ARK Invest’s Bitcoin ETF to $11 million.
These developments are widely seen as bullish indicators for Bitcoin’s price trajectory. The flagship cryptocurrency is up more than 23% year-to-date (YTD) and recently surged to a new all-time high of $123,000.
“Institutional Adoption Is Just Beginning”
Commenting on the trend, Bitcoin advocate and entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano highlighted that institutional involvement in BTC is still in its early stages. Referencing Harvard’s ETF holdings, he emphasized that the endowment now owns over $100 million worth of Bitcoin, signaling a significant shift in how major institutions view crypto assets.
Bitcoin’s Institutional Reach Is Expanding
Anthony Pompliano emphasized that Harvard’s investment in Bitcoin is yet another data point confirming that the flagship cryptocurrency is steadily making its way into the portfolios of endowments, hospital systems, pension funds, and charitable foundations. He reiterated his long-standing belief that Bitcoin is the best idea of this generation, citing its growing legitimacy in institutional finance.
Adding to this momentum, U.S. President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order permitting 401(k) retirement plans to invest in digital assets, including Bitcoin. This move marks a significant step toward the mainstream adoption of crypto within traditional financial systems.
At the same time, Pompliano’s own firm, ProCap BTC, has become a notable player in institutional Bitcoin investing. The company currently holds 4,932 BTC as part of its treasury reserves, placing it 16th among the largest Bitcoin treasury holders, according to data from BitcoinTreasuries.net.
