Avenir Group expands Bitcoin ETF stake as institutional interest grows

Avenir Group has expanded its Bitcoin holdings, reporting $599 million in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust. 

Avenir’s increased exposure was revealed in its 13F filing , which details institutional investments, including asset positions and valuations. The surge aligns with IBIT’s rapid growth, which now manages $56 billion in assets. 

The growth of BlackRock’s Bitcoin ( BTC ) ETF reflects rising institutional interest in crypto investments. Avenir’s expanded stake highlights its strategic bet on the growing demand for regulated digital asset investment products.

The firm also disclosed a $4.2 million stake in Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund, holding 52,544 shares.

Avenir Group is an institutional family office and investment management firm dedicated to investing in emerging technologies through financial technology innovation. They have offices in Hong Kong, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Singapore.

 The firm engages in a wide range of multi-asset class, multi-strategy investments across both traditional financial and digital asset sectors.

Following Barclay’s lead

Barclays, the UK-based institution, also acquired 2,473,064 IBIT shares, entering the Bitcoin ETF market. 

The purchase occurred in the fourth quarter of 2024, from October to December, during a post-election Bitcoin price surge driven by U.S. President Donald Trump’s pro-Bitcoin stance. 

Barclays joined a growing trend of institutional crypto adoption, alongside major banks like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, which also increased their Bitcoin ETF holdings.