Barclays increased its stake in the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) by 48% during the third quarter of 2026. By September 30, the bank held 3.94 million shares valued at approximately $187 million, compared to 2.66 million shares worth $88.5 million at the end of June.
Citigroup disclosed a new position in the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) valued at about $119 million. Additionally, the bank increased its holdings in the iShares Bitcoin Trust by 50%, reaching approximately 521,000 shares by the end of the third quarter.
Data from Bitwise indicates that banks held $258 million in spot Bitcoin ETFs among early third-quarter filers, representing 4.9% of total holdings. This is an increase from the $107 million, or 3.2%, reported in the second quarter.
Investment advisers continue to be the largest holders of spot Bitcoin ETFs, accounting for $3.5 billion, or 66.6% of reported positions. The total value of holdings for the 1,389 institutions that submitted reports by Friday rose to $5.25 billion from $3.35 billion in the previous quarter.
Market analysts note that these figures are preliminary, as major institutions like JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, and various hedge funds have yet to file their reports. Furthermore, analysts suggest that rising valuations in dollar terms may reflect price appreciation rather than solely new buying activity.
