Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala has reported a substantial increase in its stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). According to a U.S. SEC 13F filing dated March 31, 2025, the fund now holds 8,726,972 IBIT shares, up from 8,235,533 shares reported at the end of 2024. The latest

• Mubadala increased its IBIT holdings to 8.7 million shares worth $408.5 million by March 2025.
• U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw inflows exceeding $1.75 billion during the first half of May 2025.

Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala has reported a substantial increase in its stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). According to a U.S. SEC 13F filing dated March 31, 2025, the fund now holds 8,726,972 IBIT shares, up from 8,235,533 shares reported at the end of 2024. The latest figures place Mubadala’s total investment at approximately $408.5 million.

The updated holdings coincide with a broader surge in demand for U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs. During the first half of May, total inflows across U.S.-listed Bitcoin ETFs surpassed $1.75 billion. On May 2, ETF products received $674.9 million in net inflows. That was followed by $425.45 million on May 5 and $334.58 million on May 9. On May 15, the ETFs saw another $319.12 million in inflows. IBIT alone accounted for $232.46 million of that latest total, continuing to attract institutional players.

UAE and U.S. Deepen Dialogue on Crypto and AI Integration

The increased exposure from Mubadala came weeks after senior UAE and U.S. representatives held a meeting on digital policy. On March 20, David Sacks, the U.S. presidential advisor on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, met with Emirati leaders in Abu Dhabi. Discussions centered on AI adoption, digital currency infrastructure, and areas for cross-border cooperation. 

Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan confirmed the meeting via a public post, noting the agenda included AI applications and digital asset frameworks. The post indicated the talks focused on advancing regional cooperation and aligning technological strategies for long-term development across digital sectors.

Bitcoin Momentum in the UAE and MENA Region

The UAE has shown continued engagement with Bitcoin developments over the past year. Abu Dhabi hosted the Bitcoin MENA Conference, drawing high-level speakers and industry participants. Among them was Eric Trump, who delivered a public address emphasizing Bitcoin’s expanding role.

He gave some real-life examples of banks and other institutions adding Bitcoin to their offerings, even though people in the industry were unsure about it at first. Eric Trump said that governments and banks are increasingly feeling the need to move into the world of digital assets, as these things keep taking on more importance. He said Bitcoin is a way for people around the world to share and use money, without needing any central control.

During his speech, he described Bitcoin as a store of value and a safeguard against various forms of economic disruption. Trump expressed long-term expectations for Bitcoin’s market performance. He stated during the event that he sees Bitcoin reaching $1 million in the future.

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