Goldman Sachs Discloses $461 Million Stake in BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF, Signaling a Major Shift in Investment Strategy

Major investment bank Goldman Sachs has disclosed its significant stake in spot Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds). The finance behemoth, once a vocal Bitcoin critic, appears to be shifting its investment strategy towards crypto assets, specifically the world's largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.

Investment banking powerhouse Goldman Sachs has unveiled its substantial stake in spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The finance behemoth, which was once a vocal critic of Bitcoin, appears to be shifting its investment strategy towards crypto assets, particularly the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.

Goldman Sachs Discloses $461 Million In BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF

On Thursday, November 14, Goldman Sachs disclosed its holdings of approximately $718 million in eight Bitcoin ETFs in a filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm’s latest quarterly report revealed that the bank has increased its Bitcoin fund portfolio by $300 million.

Goldman Sachs initially entered the U.S. Bitcoin ETF market in the second quarter of 2024, revealing a Bitcoin fund investment of $418 million. However, the BTC exchange-traded fund portfolio has now grown by over 71%, reaching $718 million.

According to the filing on Nov 14 with the U.S. SEC, Goldman Sachs now holds $461 million in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF (ticker: IBIT). The investment bank also disclosed a $96 million holding in Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (ticker: FBTC).

Moreover, Goldman Sachs disclosed approximately $72 million in the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF (GBTC) and around $60 million in the Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin exchange-traded fund. The bank’s $22 million and $3 million investments in Bitwise’s Bitcoin fund and Ark/21Shares’ ETF, respectively, are also noteworthy.

Besides the Bitcoin ETFs, Goldman Sachs also engaged in the recently launched spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds, investing $22.6 million in the Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF and $2.6 million in the Fidelity Ethereum Fund.

While the spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds have attracted significant capital and attention since launching, the Ethereum ETFs have largely underperformed since hitting the market. However, the Ethereum ETFs are currently experiencing a period of restitution, having recorded six consecutive days of inflows.

What Else Has Goldman Sachs Been Up To?

As mentioned earlier, Goldman Sachs has been making major moves in the cryptocurrency industry throughout the year. While investing in crypto exchange-traded funds is a clear path, the banking firm has also considered blockchain technology ventures.

As reported in July, Goldman Sachs unveiled its plans to expand its crypto offering, focusing on the tokenization sector. Global Head of Digital Assets Matthew McDermott disclosed the bank’s intentions to launch three tokenization projects before 2024 ends.