Bitcoin Updates: UAE’s Holdings in Bitcoin Triple as the Gulf Region Adopts Digital Gold

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Bitcoin Updates: UAE’s Holdings in Bitcoin Triple as the Gulf Region Adopts Digital Gold

Bitget-RWA2025/11/19 20:34

By:Bitget-RWA

- Abu Dhabi's ADIC and Mubadala acquired 16M shares in BlackRock's IBIT ETF, tripling ADIC's stake to $518M, positioning UAE as a top Bitcoin holder via ETFs. - The investment occurred before a 20% Bitcoin price drop, with ADIC emphasizing Bitcoin's role as a "digital gold" for portfolio diversification. - UAE's strategy aligns with Gulf trends, including Dubai's Digital Dirham and Saudi Arabia's blockchain partnerships, as sovereign funds increasingly allocate to crypto assets. - Despite institutional int

The Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC) and its parent organization, Mubadala Investment Co., have together purchased more than 16 million shares of BlackRock's

iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF

(IBIT), marking a major institutional commitment to cryptocurrency. ADIC's holdings alone have surged to 8 million shares—worth roughly $518 million as of September 30, 2025—while

Mubadala holds 8.7 million shares

, according to regulatory disclosures and Bloomberg. This development places the UAE among the largest state-level owners of

Bitcoin

, whether via ETFs or direct purchases,

as the region accelerates its adoption of digital assets

The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, which leads the crypto ETF market with assets exceeding $70 billion,

has delivered uneven results

. The ETF posted a 6.2% gain in Q3 2025, but has since experienced $3.1 billion in withdrawals during November alone,

including a record $523 million outflow

in a single day. ADIC increased its exposure just before Bitcoin fell by 20%, prompting scrutiny over the timing of the move.

An ADIC representative reaffirmed the fund’s long-term approach

, describing Bitcoin as a “store of value akin to gold,” and highlighting its importance for portfolio diversification.

Bitcoin Updates: UAE’s Holdings in Bitcoin Triple as the Gulf Region Adopts Digital Gold image 0

The UAE’s move into Bitcoin is in line with both regional and international trends. Sovereign wealth funds and governments are increasingly channeling investments into crypto assets as part of their diversification efforts.

Mubadala, ADIC’s parent, previously secured

a $2 billion stake in Binance using a stablecoin associated with the family of U.S. President Donald Trump. At the same time,

Saudi Arabia’s recent collaboration with WhiteBIT

to promote blockchain and CBDC projects under Vision 2030 highlights the Gulf’s expanding role in digital finance.

ADIC’s investment also demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s goal of becoming a center for cryptocurrency. The emirate has launched the Digital Dirham—a stablecoin backed by the central bank—and established a regulatory system to attract crypto businesses. Mubadala’s earlier $2 billion Binance investment further signals the region’s enthusiasm for digital assets. However,

recent market turbulence has led to greater caution

among large investors.

Harvard Management Co. and other organizations have also raised their

IBIT

holdings in 2025, but ongoing outflows in the sector underscore the difficulties of navigating crypto’s volatility.

Market experts point out that ADIC’s sizable investment—within a $1.7 trillion asset portfolio—reflects trust in regulated crypto offerings.

The fund’s approach is similar to El Salvador’s

, which adopted Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021 and recently boosted its reserves by $100 million.

The Czech National Bank has joined this movement

, making its first cryptocurrency purchase in late 2025.

Even with the UAE’s optimistic outlook,

the cryptocurrency sector continues to be highly volatile

. Bitcoin’s latest decline below key technical thresholds has fueled bearish sentiment, with the RSI indicator nearing oversold levels for major coins like

Ethereum

and

XRP

Institutional players are adjusting their positions

, with sophisticated investors increasing their short bets on Bitcoin futures.

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

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