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Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Company held 12.7 million shares of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust as of Dec. 31, 2025 valued at approximately $630.6 million according to an SEC filing submitted Feb. 17, 2026. The position represents a 46% increase from the 8.7 million shares the fund reported just one quarter earlier.
Market observers say moves like this demonstrate that Institutional crypto adoption is transitioning from experimental allocations to strategic portfolio positioning. Even with Bitcoin sliding from above $100,000 to roughly $68,000 in early 2026, large allocators appear undeterred.
For years, sovereign wealth funds approached digital assets conservatively. That posture is now evolving as Institutional crypto adoption gains regulatory clarity and more familiar investment vehicles. Spot ETFs in particular have acted as a bridge between traditional finance and crypto markets.
“Bitcoin is an international asset,” said Larry Fink in prior public remarks about the asset class, emphasizing its potential role as a global store of value. Statements like this have helped legitimize Institutional crypto adoption among conservative asset managers.
Abu Dhabi’s government has simultaneously worked to build a structured legal environment for digital assets, reinforcing confidence among large investors. Analysts say this regulatory groundwork is a key reason Institutional crypto adoption in the Gulf region is accelerating faster than many expected.
The same filing reveals Mubadala’s broader holdings, illustrating how Institutional crypto adoption fits within diversified global portfolios rather than replacing traditional assets. Its largest stake remains in GlobalFoundries, valued above $15.7 billion with 450 million shares.
Other notable positions include Arm Holdings at about $150.5 million and Blue Owl Technology Finance at more than $423 million. The mix suggests Institutional crypto adoption is unfolding alongside continued investment in semiconductors, lending, and infrastructure plays rather than replacing them.
Additional holdings span healthcare firms like AbbVie and CVS Health, mining companies such as Agnico Eagle Mines and Barrick Gold, and consumer-facing giants including Adobe Inc., Walt Disney, and Ford Motor Company. Analysts say such diversification demonstrates how Institutional crypto adoption is being integrated methodically rather than speculatively.
The Abu Dhabi allocation is not occurring in isolation. Goldman Sachs recently disclosed it holds more than $1.1 billion in the same Bitcoin ETF, a development widely interpreted as confirmation that Institutional crypto adoption has reached a new phase of legitimacy.
Major brokerages such as Bank of America and Morgan Stanley have also updated internal policies allowing financial advisers to recommend Bitcoin ETFs to qualified clients. That policy shift alone has significantly widened distribution channels for Institutional crypto adoption products.
Despite Bitcoin’s recent pullback, ETF capital has remained relatively stable. Analysts attribute that resilience to the nature of Institutional crypto adoption, which tends to involve longer holding periods and disciplined rebalancing strategies rather than emotional trading.
Still, not all forecasts are bullish. Researchers at Standard Chartered, including digital-asset strategist Geoff Kendrick, recently warned that Bitcoin could fall toward $50,000 if macroeconomic pressure persists. Even so, they note that Institutional crypto adoption could cushion volatility because large funds rarely liquidate positions during short-term swings.
Taken together, Mubadala’s expanded ETF stake, Wall Street participation, and stable institutional inflows suggest Institutional crypto adoption is no longer a fringe development. Instead, it is becoming embedded in modern asset-allocation frameworks.
Strategists argue that when sovereign wealth funds commit hundreds of millions of dollars, it sends a signal across global markets. Smaller funds, pensions, and family offices often follow such moves, accelerating Institutional crypto adoption through imitation and competitive benchmarking.
