Macquarie Cuts IBIT Stake by 62% Amid Bitcoin ETF Retreat
Macquarie Group, the Australian financial giant with a market cap north of $50B, has significantly reduced its position in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) by roughly 62% during the second quarter of 2026. The firm now holds approximately 1.6 million shares worth between $53M and $55M, down from about 4.139 million shares valued at around $159M at the end of Q1.
The move marks the second consecutive quarter Macquarie has pulled back from the world's largest spot Bitcoin ETF, with the pace of retreat accelerating. Macquarie hasn't publicly explained the rationale behind either reduction, leaving room for speculation about its investment strategy.
A 13F filing submitted on August 14 revealed the details of Macquarie's reduced stake in IBIT. While the filing doesn't distinguish between proprietary holdings and positions held on behalf of clients, it suggests that Macquarie is actively de-risking or adjusting to client redemptions or mandate changes.