Bank of America (BofA) disclosed approximately $53.1 million in cryptocurrency-related exchange-traded fund (ETF) holdings in its latest quarterly report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), signaling a cautious and notable expansion of digital asset exposure at major U.S. banks.
What the 13F submissions revealed
According to BofA’s Q1 2026 13F filing, the bank’s crypto ETF positions include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum ($ETH), ripple($XRP), Solana ($SOL). Its largest single holding is BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), valued at about $37 million, an increase from last quarter’s filing. This suggests that the bank increased its Bitcoin exposure during that period.
Regarding Ethereum, BofA owns BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), valued at approximately $1.06 million. Although this number has decreased slightly since the last report, the bank maintains its presence in the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.
Additionally, the filing shows BofA owns 3.96 million shares of Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), a business intelligence company known for its large Bitcoin vault. The value of this position is approximately $660 million, which is smaller than the ETF’s direct holdings and indicates a preference for indirect Bitcoin exposure through equities.
Background and industry importance
13F filings are required quarterly for institutional investment managers with at least $100 million in assets under management. They provide a public snapshot of what big funds, banks, and hedge funds are buying and selling, but only cover U.S.-listed securities, including ETFs and stocks.
BofA’s $53.1 million crypto ETF is modest compared to its $3.1 trillion in total assets under management, but it is significant because it reflects the growing institutional comfort with regulated crypto products. The SEC approved a Bitcoin spot ETF in January 2024 and an Ethereum spot ETF later that year, opening the door for traditional financial institutions to gain crypto exposure through familiar and regulated channels.
Other major banks, including Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, have also disclosed their holdings in crypto ETFs in recent filings, although they vary in size. The increase in BofA’s IBIT position signals a strategic decision to allocate more capital to Bitcoin through BlackRock’s funds, which provide liquidity and regulatory clarity.
Why this matters to investors
For retail investors and market observers, BofA’s filing is a data point in broader trends in institutional adoption. This shows that even traditionally cautious banks consider crypto ETFs acceptable in their portfolios. inclusion of $XRP and $SOL ETFs (an asset class that only received SEC approval in late 2025) represent a growing range of digital assets entering mainstream finance.
The large investment in Strategy also highlights the preference of some financial institutions to gain Bitcoin exposure through stocks rather than direct ETFs, perhaps for tax, liquidity or risk management reasons.
conclusion
Bank of America’s Q1 2026 13F filing confirms that the bank continues to build its crypto ETF portfolio with a clear preference for Bitcoin through BlackRock’s IBIT. While the total allocation of crypto ETFs remains small compared to their total assets, they tend to increase exposure and diversification. $ETH, $XRPand $SOL ETFs signal the gradual normalization of digital assets in institutional investor portfolios. The lines between traditional finance and cryptocurrencies continue to blur as more banks follow a similar path.
FAQ
Q1: What is a 13F declaration?
A 13F filing is a quarterly report required by the SEC for institutional investment managers with at least $100 million in assets under management. It exposes holdings in U.S.-listed stocks, including ETFs and stocks, giving the public insight into what large investors are buying and selling.
Q2: Why does Bank of America hold crypto ETFs instead of buying cryptocurrencies directly?
ETFs provide exposure to regulated, liquid, and familiar crypto assets without the operational challenges of direct ownership such as management, security, and compliance. For banks like BofA, ETFs fit into their existing risk management and reporting frameworks.
Q3: What is the significance of BofA’s large stake in MicroStrategy?
Strategy is a publicly traded company with a large amount of Bitcoin assets. By owning Strategy stock, BofA gains exposure to Bitcoin indirectly through traditional stocks. This may result in different tax treatment, liquidity, and risk characteristics than Bitcoin ETFs.
