Abu Dhabi sovereign fund adds to Bitcoin! Q3 increased its holdings to 5.5 million shares of IBIT, with a total investment of nearly US$1 billion

The Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC), significantly expanded its investment in Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the third quarter of 2025 (July-September).
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According to Bloomberg, the Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC), as an independent operating unit of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Company, The third quarter of 2025 (July-September) saw a significant expansion of investments in Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

ADIC increased its position by 5.5 million shares of IBIT

According to its latest 13F position report submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), ADIC increased its holdings of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) shares from approximately 2.4 million shares at the end of the second quarter to 7.9634 million shares, an increase of as much as 230.6%, almost three times the original value, which was worth about $518 million based on the market capitalization on September 30. In this regard, an ADIC spokesperson told the media that Bitcoin is being regarded as "digital gold" and is part of its long-term diversified allocation strategy, not short-term speculation.

It is worth mentioning that ADIA, another sovereign fund in Abu Dhabi, also bought US$436 million in IBIT as early as the first quarter of this year, showing that Abu Dhabi’s overall layout of crypto assets has already begun.

At the same time, other well-known institutions also increased their positions in Bitcoin. For example, the Harvard University Endowment Fund increased its holdings by 257% in the same quarter, and the Wisconsin Investment Commission doubled its Bitcoin ETF position.

Potential impact on the market

The substantial increase in positions by the Abu Dhabi sovereign fund is seen as the latest symbol of the Middle East’s oil wealth accelerating its embrace of cryptocurrency. Analysts pointed out that the large-scale investment by sovereign wealth funds not only brought substantial capital inflows to the US spot Bitcoin ETF, but also strengthened the narrative of Bitcoin turning from a high-risk speculative asset to an "institutional-grade reserve asset."

Especially in the context of reports that at least five countries around the world are considering incorporating Bitcoin into national reserves, Abu Dhabi’s actions may inspire more sovereign funds to follow suit and create a demonstration effect.