Goldman Sachs Holds $1.5B in Bitcoin ETFs and $476M in Ethereum ETFs: Report

Highlights:

• Goldman Sachs reports over $2 billion in crypto exposure through Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.
• The firm boosts Bitcoin ETF holdings by 120%, reaching $1.56 billion by Q4. 
• Goldman’s Ethereum exposure soars to $476.5 million, marking a nearly 19x increase from the previous Q3.

Investment bank Goldman Sachs reported over $2 billion in crypto exposure through Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as of Dec. 31, per its latest 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This highlights the firm’s increasing commitment to digital asset investments.

🚨 NEW: Goldman Sachs has $2.3 billion in Bitcoin ETF exposure, per 13F SEC filings today.

– IBIT: $1.9b
– FBTC: $374m
– GBTC: $3.6m

Up from $710m in Q4 last year 👀 pic.twitter.com/8hynRZdEL0

— Julian Fahrer (@Julian__Fahrer) February 11, 2025

Goldman Sachs Boosts Bitcoin ETF Holdings by 120%

Goldman increased its Bitcoin ETF holdings by 120%, reaching $1.56 billion by the end of Q4 of last year. This is more than double the $710 million from the previous quarter.

Goldman increased its Bitcoin ETF holdings by 120%, reaching $1.56 billion by the end of Q4 of last year. This is more than double the $710 million from the previous quarter. Goldman boosted its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) by 177%, bringing the total investment to $1.28 billion. The firm also raised its Franklin Bitcoin Trust (FBTC) by 200%, reaching $288 million.

Goldman Sachs holds $22.5 million in the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BIBT) and $3 million in the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB). It also has $4 million in the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC) and $800,000 in the WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund (BTCW). The filing, required for investment managers with over $100 million in securities, reveals Goldman holds $3.6 million in the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC).

Goldman Sachs’ Ethereum Exposure Soars

Goldman Sachs’ interest in Ethereum grew significantly alongside its rising Bitcoin exposure. As of Dec. 31, the firm reported $476.5 million in spot Ethereum ETF holdings, a sharp increase from $25.1 million on Sept. 30—marking a nearly 19x surge. 

The 13F filing detailed $234.7 million in ETH exposure through Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH) and $235.5 million via BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA). Additionally, it reported $6.3 million in Ethereum exposure through Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHE). Despite the sharp rise in ETH exposure, it accounts for only 24% of Goldman Sachs’ total ETF holdings.

The firms’s increasing ETF investments show strong institutional confidence in digital assets. The platform also uses derivatives for strategic exposure management.

Goldman Sachs Expands Blockchain Focus While Acknowledging Bitcoin’s Role

Goldman’s portfolio adjustments reflect the market’s growing interest in crypto assets. The firm’s increased allocation shows its focus on Bitcoin-linked investments. In July, Goldman announced plans to launch three tokenized funds. These funds will target the US and European markets, aiming to integrate blockchain technology into its operations.

In November, Goldman initiated a blockchain venture to enhance trading and settlement processes. The initiative also aims to support the tokenization of funds.

In a January 22 interview at the World Economic Forum, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon expressed confidence in the US dollar while recognizing Bitcoin’s role in finance. He stated that Bitcoin is not a threat to the US dollar and described it as an “interesting speculative asset.” Solomon described blockchain technology as “super interesting” and highlighted its potential to streamline the financial system. He emphasized its role in reducing friction as finance continues to digitize.

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said that from a regulatory perspective, Goldman Sachs is still unable to hold, make markets or participate in Bitcoin business. Regarding Trump's proposed US strategic Bitcoin reserve plan, Solomon emphasized that Bitcoin will not threaten the…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) January 23, 2025