Harvard University's Investment Manager Loads Up On 3.87M ETHA Shares
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Harvard University is known for its strong academia, so is its asset manager's recent investment in a crypto ETF a smart move?What happenedAccording to a SEC filing dated Feb. 13, 2026, Harvard Management Co. Inc. established a new position in the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA +6.78%), acquiring 3,870,900 shares. The estimated transaction value is $86.82 million, based on the average fourth-quarter share price. What else to knowThis was a new position, representing 4.18% of the fund’s reportable U.S. equity assets as of Dec. 31, 2025. Top five holdings post-filing:(IBIT +5.18%): $265.81 million (12.8% of AUM)(GOOGL 1.08%): $252.87 million (12.2% of AUM)(GLD +2.49%): $248.27 million (11.9% of AUM)(MSFT 0.13%): $236.82 million (11.4% of AUM)(BKNG 0.45%): $180.25 million (8.7% of AUM)As of Feb. 14, 2026, shares were priced at $15.44, down 23.90% over the past year and underperforming the S&P 500 by approximately 35%.Harvard Management reported 19 positions and $2.08 billion in 13F reportable assets after the quarter. ETF overviewMetricValueAUM$6.17 billionPrice $15.44One-year price change -23.90%Price and one-year change based on Feb. 14, 2026 data. ETF snapshotThe iShares Ethereum Trust ETF offers institutional and retail investors a regulated vehicle for gaining exposure to Ether (ETH 4.80%), the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain. With a market capitalization of $6.17 billion, the fund provides a scalable solution for those seeking to participate in the digital asset market without the technical and custodial burdens of direct Ether ownership. What this transaction means for investorsMany people may not know that a university has an investment portfolio public like this. The stock investments are part of Harvard’s endowments, long-term investment portfolios used for institutional needs such as faculty pay, scholarships, research, and as reserves in the event of low or no tuition enrollment. Endowments are often managed by investment professionals, and Harvard Management is the school’s exclusive investment manager. The management portfolio only holds 19 assets, but it covers a variety of sectors such as commodities, real estate, tech, and cryptocurrencies. It also holds a position in the iShares Bitcoin ETF Trust (IBIT +5.18%), which offers exposure to Bitcoin (BTC 1.23%), as ETHA does with Ether. Unfortunately, ETHA hasn’t grown as much over time as IBIT, as the Bitcoin ETF has climbed approximately 40% since its inception in January 2024, while the price of the Ether fund, which was created six months after IBIT, is down 41.32%. But if investors remain positive on the crypto market’s long-term outlook, as Harvard Management seems to be, ETHA remains a viable option for exposure.Read NextOct 7, 2025 •By Anders BylundWhere Will iShares Ethereum Trust ETF Be in 5 Years?Dec 13, 2024 •By Bram BerkowitzMultimillionaire Cathie Wood Is Buying a BlackRock ETF That Could Soar 164% in 2025, According to This Wall Street AnalystOct 1, 2024 •By Dominic BasultoLove the New Spot Bitcoin ETFs?
These Other Crypto ETFs Are Also Making a Splash With Investors.Sep 23, 2024 •By Chris MacDonaldHere's Why the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF Is Having a Very Nice DayJul 27, 2024 •By Anders BylundEthereum Investors Just Got Some Bullish NewsStocks MentionediShares Ethereum Trust - iShares Ethereum Trust ETFNASDAQ: ETHA$15.44 (+6.78%) $+0.98iShares Bitcoin TrustNASDAQ: IBIT$38.97 (+5.18%) $+1.92AlphabetNASDAQ: GOOGL$305.65 (1.08%) $3.35SPDR Gold SharesNYSEMKT: GLD$462.62 (+2.49%) $+11.23MicrosoftNASDAQ: MSFT$401.32 (0.13%) $0.52Booking HoldingsNASDAQ: BKNG$4140.60 (0.45%) $18.50*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.