# Institutional activity in BlackRock Bitcoin ETF

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/institutional-activity-in-blackrock-bitcoin-etf
> Updated: 2026-08-16T23:45:29.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

Institutional investment activity in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) showed divergent trends among major financial firms during the second quarter of 2026.

UBS Group significantly increased its exposure through call options, which rose by 2,337.5% to 1.95 million underlying shares, while its direct share holdings grew by 11.94%. Conversely, Tudor Investment increased its direct holdings by 18.9% but reduced its call options by 85.2%.

Other institutions moved in the opposite direction. Macquarie Group reduced its IBIT holdings by approximately 62% during the second quarter, following a 19% reduction in the first quarter. Additionally, UBS reported a 52.75% decrease in the number of shares underlying its IBIT puts.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-16: Institutional investors show mixed activity in BlackRock Bitcoin ETF

Institutional investors show mixed signals regarding BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF (IBIT), with Tudor Investment increasing direct holdings while Macquarie Group reduced its position by 62% in Q2.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/institutional-investors-show-mixed-activity-in-blackrock-bitcoin-etf

### 2026-08-13: UBS Group increases Bitcoin ETF call options by 24-fold

UBS Group's regulatory filing shows a 2,337.5% surge in call options for BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) during Q2 2026, while put options declined by over 52%.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ubs-group-increases-bitcoin-etf-call-options-by-24-fold

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Cite as: Institutional activity in BlackRock Bitcoin ETF. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/institutional-activity-in-blackrock-bitcoin-etf