Abu Dhabi Sovereign Wealth Funds Boost BlackRock Bitcoin ETF Holdings to $1.1 Billion

Abu Dhabi’s leading sovereign investment vehicles have significantly increased their exposure to digital assets, with the latest disclosures revealing a combined holding of over $1.1 billion in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT).

According to 13F filings submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Mubadala Investment Company and Al Warda Investments now collectively own more than 20 million shares in the spot Bitcoin ETF.

Very important one.
In a filing today, sovereign wealth fund Mubadala reported owning 12.7 million shares of IBIT valued at $630.6 million as of December 31.
That’s a 46% increase from 8.7 million shares previously reported as of September 30.
Filing:https://t.co/vSlYJOg8T7
— MacroScope (@MacroScope17) February 17, 2026

This aggressive accumulation by state-backed entities underscores a strategic shift as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) positions itself as a global hub for regulated blockchain infrastructure.

Mubadala and Al Warda lead the institutional charge

Mubadala Investment Company, which manages a global portfolio exceeding $330 billion, reported owning 12,702,323 shares in IBIT as of December 31, 2025. This position, valued at approximately $631 million, represents a 46% increase from the 8.7 million shares the fund held at the end of the third quarter.

Parallel to this, Al Warda Investments, a specialized investment arm under the Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC), disclosed a holding of 8,218,712 shares valued at roughly $408 million.

The combined stake of 20.9 million shares reflects a “triple-down” strategy initiated in late 2025. Institutional analysts suggest that the UAE is increasingly treating $BTC (Bitcoin) as a digital gold equivalent, integrating it into long-term diversification strategies to reduce reliance on traditional oil-based revenues. This institutional conviction remains steadfast despite recent market volatility that saw Bitcoin prices correct from an October peak of $125,100 to levels below $92,000.

UAE accelerates regulated digital asset infrastructure

The massive ETF allocation coincides with broader efforts by Abu Dhabi to lead the Web3 space. Recently, the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) approved the launch of DDSC, a dirham-backed stablecoin, to operate on the institutional Layer-2 ADI Chain. This move, supported by First Abu Dhabi Bank and IHC, aims to streamline high-value settlements and treasury operations for regulated entities.

Meanwhile, BlackRock’s spot Ethereum ETF (ETHA) attracted a significant net inflow exceeding $100 million on January 5, 2026, according to data from Farside Investors. This substantial capital influx was the primary driver for the US spot Ethereum ETF market’s total net inflow of $165.45 million on that day.

The strong performance of ETHA underscores BlackRock’s significant influence in the digital asset space. It signals a growing institutional appetite for Ethereum, even as volatility affects other areas of the cryptocurrency market.

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