In this episode, we’re breaking down Harvard trimming its Bitcoin exposure while boosting Ethereum, Metaplanet’s massive profits mixed with massive paper loss, and Binance pushing back against new compliance allegations.
Institutions are reshuffling, treasury strategies are being tested, and exchanges are under pressure.
Harvard’s crypto pivot
Harvard Management Company reduced its Bitcoin exposure by cutting 21% of its stake in the iShares Bitcoin Trust, while simultaneously adding 4 million shares to an Ethereum ETF.
It’s not an exit from crypto, but a strategic portfolio rebalance, trimming Bitcoin and increasing Ethereum exposure.
The move has sparked debate among finance academics about crypto’s role in institutional portfolios, though within Harvard’s $56.9 billion diversified endowment, crypto remains just a small piece of a much larger investment strategy.
Metaplanet’s billion-Yen boom, and billion-dollar paper pain
In Japan, Metaplanet delivered massive operating growth, with revenue surging more than 700% and options income climbing to nearly 8 billion yen.
However, Bitcoin’s drop from about $125,000 to under $90,000 caused a non-cash valuation loss exceeding 100 billion yen, resulting in a net loss of roughly $605 million.
Operationally strong, but hit by accounting losses. Still, the company remains committed to its long-term Bitcoin treasury strategy, betting that today’s volatility will reward them in the future.
Binance pushes back against sanctions allegations
Compliance tensions are back as Binance denies a report by Fortune alleging it processed over $1 billion in transactions linked to Iranian groups using Tether’s USDt on Tron. The report also claimed internal investigators were dismissed, something Binance strongly rejects, saying an internal review with external legal counsel found no sanctions violations.
The scrutiny follows Binance’s $4.3 billion U.S. settlement in 2023 and the departure of founder Changpeng Zhao. With ongoing pressure, including questions raised by the Financial Times, every new allegation carries major weight. Binance says it’s compliant; critics remain unconvinced.