Mubadala, Abu Dhabi's wealth fund, pours $408.5 million into Bitcoin through BlackRock's IBIT Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF).
Mubadala, Abu Dhabi's investment powerhouse, upped its Bitcoin Trust game by amping its stake in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT)—a testament to this sovereign wealth fund's persistent crypto curiosity.
As per the May 15 filing with the SEC, Mubadala was sitting pretty on 8.7 million IBIT shares, worth a cool $408.5 million. That's a significant jump from the 8.2 million shares it had back in 2024's yearend. But while the share count skyrocketed, the overall value dipped from $436 million, thanks to IBIT's price rollercoaster, which closed at $58.86 on May 15, as per Yahoo Finance's data.
The IBIT investment is just a small fish in Mubadala's ginormous $300 billion asset portfolio. Still, it's a whale-worthy Bitcoin ETF allocation by a sovereign wealth fund. By investing in IBIT, funds can snag Bitcoin exposure without dealing with the craziness of private keys, custody, and compliance. Since launching in early 2024, IBIT has become one of the most traded spot Bitcoin ETFs, with over 33 million shares swapped daily.
Meanwhile, while Mubadala's IBIT position bloomed, some entities opted for a garden-leave. In the first quarter of 2025, the State of Wisconsin Investment Board bid farewell to all its IBIT shares (over 6 million worth $355.6 million), marking a stark contrast to its previous buys-be-dazzled strategy.
As for governments' crypto cozying up, President Trump's trumpeting for a national Bitcoin Reserve has US crypto fans dancing with joy. The regulatory landscape is warming too—US banks can now custody crypto with more ease following policy changes, and the state of Missouri is considering axing capital gains tax on digital assets like Bitcoin.
But the crypto world didn't just spin for Mubadala—the XRP dips statement was filed in a U.S. court rejecting Ripple's settlement bid over a procedural snafu. Flips and flops, aren't we? 💥🤯🚀can't catch a break! 😜🤫😂💔
Enrichment insights:- Mubadala Investment Company boosted its IBIT stake to 8.7 million shares, with a market value of $408.5 million as of March 31, 2025- This represents an addition of about 491,400 shares during the first quarter of 2025- Mubadala's IBIT stake reflects a broader trend among sovereign wealth funds and institutional investors to increase exposure to regulated Bitcoin investment vehicles- The growing interest from Mubadala and similar entities underscores continued mainstream adoption and validation of Bitcoin ETFs within institutional portfolios
- Mubadala, the Abu Dhabi investment powerhouse, has increased its stake in various crypto assets, with a notable investment in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), demonstrating the fund's persistent curiosity in the realm of cryptocurrency and technology.
- The addition of 491,400 IBIT shares has propelled Mubadala's Bitcoin Trust game, making it one of the top holders of Bitcoin exposure through this regulated investment vehicle in its portfolio.
- Bitcoin is not the only cryptocurrency that has caught the attention of Mubadala, as the global finance industry continues to evolve with technology and innovation, with other potential investments like XRP in the pipeline.
- As governments and regulators around the world increasingly support the crypto sector and provide more favorable policies, institutions—such as Mubadala and various US entities—are taking advantage of the growing opportunities in the cryptocurrency finance and investing landscape.
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