Bitcoin News: Abu Dhabi Investment Council Triples Stake in BlackRock Bitcoin ETF in Q3: Report

The Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC) nearly tripled its stake in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF during the third quarter, signaling the United Arab Emirates’ strengthening institutional conviction in digital assets—even as Bitcoin and ETF prices have sharply corrected in recent weeks.What to KnowADIC increased its IBIT holdings from 2.4M to nearly 8M shares in Q3.The position was valued at roughly $520M as of Sept. 30.Bitcoin surged to an all-time high of $125,100 days after Q3 ended but has since fallen below $90,000.BlackRock’s IBIT ETF is down 23% since Q3, closing Wednesday at $50.71.Yesterday, IBIT logged its largest daily outflow ever: $523.2 million.ADIC Boosts Bitcoin Exposure in Q3 Despite Turbulent MarketAccording to Bloomberg, ADIC—an investment arm of Mubadala Investment Company—expanded its holdings of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) to nearly 8 million shares by Sept. 30, up from 2.4 million at the start of the quarter.ADIC told Bloomberg it views Bitcoin as the “digital equivalent of gold.”The move came during a volatile period:Q3 ended days before Bitcoin set its $125,100 all-time high on Oct. 5.Since then, BTC has plunged below $90,000 before recovering slightly to $92,089 on Thursday.IBIT Slides 23% Since September PeakIBIT closed the third quarter at $65 per share and briefly rose to $71 the day after Bitcoin hit its ATH.But recent declines in Bitcoin have pushed the ETF sharply lower.IBIT closed Wednesday at $50.71 — down 23% since Sept. 30.Despite the pullback, ADIC’s accumulation has been widely interpreted as a bullish long-term signal for institutional crypto adoption in the Middle East.UAE Industry Leaders See Strong Institutional ConvictionZayed Aleem, treasury manager at crypto investment platform M2, wrote on LinkedIn:“It is fantastic to see such institutional conviction and another strong signal that the UAE is securing its place as a global hub for digital assets.”Crypto analyst MartyParty echoed that sentiment, saying the position reflects a strategic long-term bet on Bitcoin’s role as a store of value.The UAE has been accelerating its digital-asset strategy throughout 2024–25, with sovereign wealth entities increasingly exploring Bitcoin, tokenization, and crypto infrastructure.IBIT Suffers Record Daily Outflows as Market Pulls BackThe report comes one day after IBIT saw its largest-ever single-day outflow, totaling $523.2 million, according to Farside Investors.The outflows coincided with Bitcoin’s plunge to $88,000, its lowest level in months.ETF analyst Eric Balchunas described IBIT’s recent performance as an “ugly stretch.”Still, he noted:“YTD flows are still at an astronomical +$25B (6th overall). All told, $3.3B in total outflows over the past month from BTC ETFs — about 3.5% of AUM.”Since its January 2024 launch, IBIT has posted approximately $63.12 million in net inflows.Analysts Divided on Bitcoin’s Near-Term OutlookAnalyst forecasts remain mixed heading into the final weeks of 2025:Some believe the correction is nearing exhaustion.Others see room for further downside amid tightening macro conditions.Bitcoin analyst VICTOR described the current price zone as:“The close your eyes and bid type of range.”Where Bitcoin trades next may depend on ETF flows, liquidity conditions, and any fresh macro surprises during the final Fed meeting of the year.