Source: cryptoslate
Compiled by: Blockchain Knight
Morgan Stanley disclosed in its Q1 2013 disclosure that it invested $269.9 million in a spot BTC ETF through Grayscale’s GBTC .
The investment makes Morgan Stanley one of the largest holders of GBTC, second only to Susquehanna International Group's $1 billion investment, according to Fintel data.
Morgan Stanley is also one of a number of global systemically important banks (G-SIBs) that have disclosed investments in spot BTC ETFs, including Royal Bank of Canada, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, BNP Paribas and UBS.
Other companies have also disclosed investments in spot BTC ETFs .
On May 14, New York consulting firm Pine Ridge Advisers disclosed a $205.8 million investment in spot BTC ETFs, including $83.2 million in BlackRock's IBIT, $93.4 million in Fidelity's FBTC, and $29.3 million in Bitwise's BITB.
Boothbay Fund Management, a New York-based hedge fund management company, disclosed $377 million in spot BTC ETF investments, including $149.8 million in IBIT, $105.5 million in FBTC, $69.5 million in GBTC, and $52.3 million in BITB.
Additionally, alternative asset manager Aristeia Capital Llc disclosed a $163.4 million IBIT investment on May 15, and Connecticut-based investment firm Graham Capital Management disclosed a $98.8 million IBIT investment and a $3.8 million FBTC investment.
Hedge fund manager Crcm Lp disclosed $96.6 million in IBIT investments, and New York investment manager Fortress Investment Group LLC disclosed holdings of $53.6 million in IBIT.
The latest filing comes ahead of the first quarter 13F reporting deadline, marking the end of the first quarter in which investors could purchase most spot BTC ETFs .
Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan commented on the recent wave of filings, estimating that more than 700 specialist firms will invest nearly $5 billion by the May 15 deadline.
Hougan called the trend a "historic scale of professional investor ownership," something that had only been seen before with the launch of gold ETFs in 2004, which were considered the most successful ETF product at the time.
However, Hougan said that despite the influx of institutional money, retail investment still accounts for the largest portion of spot BTC ETF investment .
As of now, the combined assets under management of these ETFs are approximately $50 billion.
