Bitcoin News: Goldman Sachs Holds $1B in Bitcoin ETFs Despite Sharp Market Sell-Off

Goldman Sachs disclosed more than $1 billion in Bitcoin exposure in its fourth-quarter filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, underscoring continued institutional involvement in crypto-linked products despite a steep market downturn.The exposure is held through spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, primarily BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin ETF (FBTC), rather than through direct holdings of Bitcoin.Industry figures noted the significance of the disclosure. “Shows direction of travel,” said Nate Geraci, co-founder of the ETF Institute. Changpeng Zhao, Binance’s former CEO, said the move highlights how banks are increasingly following paths pioneered by the crypto industry.Exposure maintained amid price routGoldman’s filing comes as Bitcoin has fallen roughly 47% from its October peak, contributing to an estimated $2 trillion decline in total crypto market value over the same period. Bitcoin was trading near $67,000 at the time of reporting, after briefly dipping close to $60,000.By contrast, traditional markets have remained resilient, with the S&P 500 up nearly 4% since October, and gold posting strong gains.Greg Magadini, director of derivatives at Amberdata, said Bitcoin’s recent rebound does not yet signal a definitive market reset. “Without a transfer of ownership into fresh hands, a new cycle hasn’t begun,” he said in a note shared with DL News.Altcoin ETF exposure also disclosedGoldman’s filing shows the bank has also expanded exposure beyond Bitcoin. The firm reported holdings of more than $1 billion in Ether ETFs, alongside $152 million in XRP ETFs and $108 million in Solana ETFs.Altcoins have underperformed Bitcoin during the downturn, with Solana down roughly 73% from its peak.Market context and upcoming appearanceThe disclosure follows heavy selling across crypto investment products. More than $6 billion has exited spot Bitcoin ETFs since November, according to DefiLlama. During last week’s market stress, IBIT recorded over $10 billion in trading volume, largely driven by selling after weak macroeconomic data.Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon is scheduled to speak at the World Liberty Financial cryptocurrency forum hosted by the family of Donald Trump in Florida on February 18, an event expected to draw investors, regulators, and U.S. lawmakers.As of the latest session, Bitcoin was down 3.5% over 24 hours, while Ethereum fell 3.6%, reflecting continued pressure across major digital assets.