Bank of America disclosed nearly $53 million in crypto ETF holdings in its Q1 2026 Form 13F, with a significant boost to BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) to roughly $37 million, equivalent to 972,590 shares — up from 719,008 shares in the prior period. The filing, submitted to the SEC in mid-May 2026, offers a clear snapshot of how Wall Street is tilting toward Bitcoin over altcoins.
ETF Breakdown: Bitcoin Dominates, ETH and SOL Slashed
According to the 13F data as of March 31, 2026, Bank of America's crypto ETF portfolio breaks down as follows:
BlackRock IBIT: ~$37 million (972,590 shares)
Bitwise BITB: ~$8 million
Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust: ~$3.3 million
Fidelity FBTC: ~$1.7 million
Smaller positions were held in GBTC, VanEck HODL, and ARK 21Shares ARKB. Meanwhile, the bank slashed its BlackRock Ethereum Trust (ETHA) to roughly $1.06 million (67,000 shares), and reduced holdings in Solana and XRP-related funds to minimal levels. This aggressive rebalancing highlights the bank's preference for Bitcoin as a low-risk digital gold proxy, while treating altcoins as carry too much uncertainty for conservative institutional managers.
The bank does not hold digital coins directly on its balance sheet; instead, it uses regulated ETFs to avoid handling actual tokens, making trading safer and more efficient.
Wall Street Shift: Client Demand Drives BTC Focus
The move aligns with Bank of America's earlier decision in late 2025 to allow its 15,000 wealth advisors to recommend a 1–4% BTC ETF allocation to clients. The latest filing confirms that high-net-worth clients are indeed taking that advice. Rival firms like Morgan Stanley offer similar access, while Goldman Sachs recently trimmed its Ethereum holdings.
Bitcoin traded between $76,000 and $80,000 at the time of reporting, Ethereum hovered around $2,100–$2,200, and Solana moved between $85 and $95. The market did not spike on the news, but it underscores that big money is steadily absorbing crypto through regulated vehicles. More banks are expected to reveal larger positions later this year as the trend accelerates.