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Bitcoin News Update: Bitcoin ETF Sees $1.5 Billion Withdrawals While Institutional Investors Increase Their Holdings

Bitcoin News Update: Bitcoin ETF Sees $1.5 Billion Withdrawals While Institutional Investors Increase Their Holdings

Bitget-RWA2025/11/18 01:30
By:Bitget-RWA

- BlackRock's IBIT ETF saw $1.5B net outflows over 10 days as investors reassess Bitcoin exposure amid volatility. - Harvard University boosted IBIT holdings to $442.8M, surpassing its combined stake in major tech firms, while diversifying into gold . - Institutional ownership in IBIT rose to 29% QoQ, with UAE entities and sovereign wealth funds among key holders, signaling crypto's growing institutional acceptance. - KuCoin expanded institutional services as ETF outflows highlight market recalibration, wi

BlackRock's

(IBIT) has seen net withdrawals surpass $1.5 billion over the last 10 trading sessions, . This represents a notable shift for the ETF, which is under increasing examination as both institutional and retail investors reconsider their positions in during a period of heightened market volatility. The outflows, which consist of $18.9 billion pulled out over eight days and $3.366 billion invested over two days, within the cryptocurrency sector.

Even with the recent wave of selling, institutional interest in

remains strong. For example, Harvard University has in the ETF, raising its investment to $442.8 million by acquiring 6.81 million shares. This action highlights the Ivy League school's belief in Bitcoin as a key asset, despite ongoing market uncertainty. Harvard's position in IBIT now exceeds its combined investments in major tech firms such as Meta, NVIDIA, and Alphabet, making IBIT its top ETF holding. The university has also broadened its portfolio by purchasing $235 million in SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), indicating a wider approach to risk management.

Institutional enthusiasm for IBIT is further demonstrated by a 15% increase in institutional holders over the quarter,

. This rise has pushed institutional ownership in IBIT to 29%, with major stakeholders including sovereign wealth funds (holding 2.14%) and organizations from the United Arab Emirates (holding 4.1%). This pattern points to a maturing environment where established financial institutions are adopting Bitcoin through regulated products like ETFs. Nevertheless, the recent withdrawals indicate that institutional trust can still be shaken by broader economic challenges.

Wider market forces have intensified the sell-off. For instance, the Wisconsin Investment Board

in IBIT earlier this year. At the same time, on-chain analytics provider LookonChain reports that leading crypto treasury companies such as Bitmine and Metaplanet have experienced their market net asset value (mNAV) ratios fall below 1, and the value of their digital asset reserves. Bitmine, which owns 3.51 million ETH worth $10.63 billion, is now trading at an mNAV of 0.83, illustrating the strain on institutional holdings.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Bitcoin ETFs, not all institutional players are pulling back. KuCoin, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has

and named James Pinch as its Managing Director for Australia to oversee local operations. This step highlights the exchange's dedication to serving institutional clients who prioritize compliance and security in digital asset trading. Likewise, the introduction of "KuCoin Institutional" demonstrates the expanding infrastructure designed to meet the needs of institutional-level crypto trading.

Experts remain split on what the IBIT outflows mean for the future. While the recent withdrawals point to short-term instability, the ongoing embrace of Bitcoin ETFs by institutions signals a deeper transformation in how traditional finance perceives the asset. "Institutions are not leaving crypto," commented one analyst. "They are adjusting their approaches in light of changing market dynamics."

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Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

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