Harvard University Faces Significant Losses on Bitcoin ETF Holdings

According to PANews, Harvard University has reported a substantial loss in its Bitcoin ETF holdings following a sharp decline in the cryptocurrency market. Recent disclosure documents submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reveal that the value of the university's Bitcoin ETF holdings has decreased by approximately $40 million. Last quarter, Harvard increased its shares in the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, with holdings once nearing $500 million. Despite a brief rebound in Bitcoin prices on Tuesday, the cryptocurrency has experienced a decline of over 20% this quarter. If Harvard had sold its holdings in early October, it might have avoided further losses or even made a small profit. However, the average purchase price of the shares has not been disclosed. Assuming Harvard still holds some or all of the 4.9 million shares acquired last quarter, the most optimistic scenario indicates a 14% loss. This calculation presumes that the university purchased the shares in early July when Bitcoin's trading price was at its lowest for the quarter. At that time, Harvard invested approximately $294 million, which is now valued at around $255 million. In the second quarter of this year, before the anticipated Bitcoin market surge in 2025, Harvard also acquired 1.9 million shares. This portion of the holdings may have incurred smaller losses or slight gains, depending on the timing of the purchase. From an accounting perspective, the loss from these holdings has a minimal impact on Harvard's balance sheet. The university manages an endowment fund of $57 billion, the largest of its kind in the United States. As of September 30, its Bitcoin holdings represent less than 1% of its total assets.