Bitcoin ETF holdings rise 8% despite 14% Q2 decline

While Bitcoin spent the second quarter of 2026 shedding 14.2% of its value, institutional investors were doing the opposite of what you might expect. They were buying more. Institutional holdings in US spot Bitcoin ETFs climbed 7.5% during Q2, rising from 498,389 BTC to 535,723 BTC according to an analysis of 13F filings compiled in the Bitcoin Strategy Institutional Adoption Report for Q2 2026. The filings, released in mid-August, reflect portfolio positions as of end-June. The divergence tells a story Total Bitcoin ETF holdings actually declined 6.6% over the quarter, falling to 1,211,322 BTC. That means retail and smaller allocators were pulling money out while institutions were scooping it up. The net result: institutional ownership of Bitcoin ETFs hit a record 44.2%, up from 38.4% at the end of Q1. Nearly half of all ETF-held Bitcoin now sits in institutional portfolios. Wall Street’s biggest names keep adding The usual suspects led the charge. Morgan Stanley increased its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) holdings by 23%, bringing its total to approximately 16.5 million shares. JPMorgan expanded its IBIT position from 8.3 million shares to 10.4 million shares, a roughly 25% increa...