Institutional participation in Bitcoin spot ETFs is expanding. According to the latest figures, 1,871 institutional investors publicly disclosed their Bitcoin ETF positions worth $18.37 billion, revealing the level of institutional interest in the digital asset market. This data was shared through mandatory 13F reporting to regulatory authorities in the United States.
There Are Powerful Names Among the Institutions
Wall Street’s leading companies stand out among those with the largest shares in Bitcoin ETFs. These investors include financial institutions such as Jane Street Group, Goldman Sachs Group, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, Wells Fargo and Barclays. Additionally, leading portfolio management companies such as Capula and Horizon Kinetics also attract attention with their ETF positions.
Both market makers and portfolio managers who invest only in the long term invest in Bitcoin ETFs for different purposes. In addition to market makers who want to provide liquidity to the sector, managers and investment advisors who want to evaluate Bitcoin in their portfolios with long-term positions have become part of this broad participation.
Importance and Content of 13F Notifications
In accordance with the regulations of the American Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), institutions that manage assets of $100 million or more in their portfolio are obliged to disclose their long investment positions in reports called 13F at the end of each quarter. Current data reveals that the $18.37 billion reported Bitcoin ETF holdings represent only the share of portfolios of publicly traded, regulated and traditional financial institutions.
These announced figures do not include other types of investments, such as direct Bitcoin ownership or risk-taking based on futures transactions. In other words, institutional Bitcoin assets other than ETFs and open positions in derivative products are not included in these numbers.
“Bitcoin ETFs now hold a significant place in the asset baskets of hedge funds, banks, retirement advisors and portfolio managers.”
Expanding Institutional Participation for Bitcoin
Almost 1,900 institutional investors have posted Bitcoin positions through the ETF, indicating that this investment vehicle has become a mainstream portfolio strategy. It has now moved from ownership limited to crypto-specific companies to a much more widespread presence in the traditional financial sector.
However, there is no guarantee that ETF ownership will automatically have a positive impact on prices. At the beginning of 2026, there was a net sales trend in some US-based spot Bitcoin ETFs and a cautious impression was created throughout the market.
On the other hand, 13F reporting shows that there has been a radical transformation in the institutional investor base. Besides Wall Street players, various portfolio management companies, banks and pension funds have also become significantly involved in Bitcoin ETFs. Whether institutional investors will expand their positions according to market fluctuations is among the issues that will be closely monitored in the coming period.
