Goldman Sachs Drops $1.4B Bitcoin Bomb—Via BlackRock’s ETF

Wall Street’s latest crypto play? A $1.4 billion bet on Bitcoin—but with the safety rails of BlackRock’s ETF. Because why take risks when you can outsource them?

Goldman’s move screams institutional FOMO. After years of dismissing crypto as a ‘fraud,’ they’re now parking dump trucks of cash at the digital gold rush. Classic finance pivot—late, leveraged, and laundered through someone else’s balance sheet.

The real story? Bitcoin’s creeping legitimization. When banks start playing hot potato with ETF shares instead of actual coins, you know the game’s changed. Cynics will call it cowardice; realists see it as phase one of the great institutional takeover.

Bonus jab: Nothing says ‘trust the system’ like hedging your decentralized revolution with a SEC-approved wrapper. Thanks, Larry Fink—we’ll take our anarchic currency with a side of compliance.

In Brief

• Goldman Sachs holds 30.8 million shares of BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, valued at $1.4 billion.
• This investment represents a 28% increase compared to its previous position.
• The bank now owns $2.05 billion in crypto ETFs, including nearly $500 million in Ethereum ETFs.
• This strategy takes place in the context of exceptional performance for BlackRock’s IBIT ETF.

Goldman Sachs Invests Massively in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF

In the first quarter of 2025, Goldman Sachs reached a decisive milestone in its crypto strategy. According to official documents filed with the SEC, the investment bank has heavily invested in bitcoin. It now owns 30.8 million shares of BlackRock’s iShares bitcoin Trust (IBIT) ETF, valued at more than $1.4 billion as of March 31.

This spectacular acquisition represents a 28% increase in just one quarter. Goldman Sachs thus surpasses Brevan Howard and establishes itself as the primary institutional investor in this Bitcoin ETF.

This positioning marks a turning point in the history of traditional finance, with one of Wall Street’s most prestigious banks openly embracing digital assets.

The enthusiasm isn’t limited to Goldman Sachs. Other major players like Jane Street, DE Shaw, and Symmetry Investments have also taken significant positions in the IBIT ETF.

This rush of leading financial institutions toward bitcoin illustrates a profound shift in the perception of cryptocurrencies, now seen as a legitimate asset class by the global financial elite.

A Strong Signal for Institutional Adoption

Goldman Sachs is not only betting on BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF. Its approach is much more ambitious. By the end of 2024, the American bank had already built an impressive crypto portfolio worth $2.05 billion, diversified across several ETFs.

Specifically, this portfolio includes $1.4 billion in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, $300 million in Fidelity’s, and approximately $500 million evenly split between the ethereum ETFs of both managers. This diversification reflects a carefully thought-out strategy rather than a simple opportunistic bet.

Goldman Sachs’ commitment accelerated significantly over a few months. The total value of its crypto investments jumped 50% compared to the previous quarter, a strong signal sent to the market. This rise coincides with the remarkable success of BlackRock’s IBIT ETF, which registered 18 consecutive days of positive inflows and now exceeds $63 billion in capitalization.

This timing is no accident. Goldman Sachs anticipates a rate cut by the Federal Reserve in the second half of 2025 after revising its inflation forecasts upwards. In such an economic environment, risky assets like bitcoin become particularly attractive.

Goldman Sachs’ offensive is not isolated. It is part of a broader movement, notably illustrated by the entry of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, which has invested more than $400 million in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF.

This historic movement marks bitcoin’s definitive entry into the exclusive circle of legitimate institutional assets. We are very likely witnessing the beginnings of widespread adoption that could permanently transform the global financial landscape.

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