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Sovereign funds accumulating Bitcoin at discount, says MidChains CEO

Created at 30 Jun · 4:05 AM1 source↑ Market-relevant
IN SHORT

At least one sovereign wealth fund has been accumulating spot Bitcoin, with potentially two more in the coming weeks, according to MidChains CEO Basil Al Askari. He stated that current low prices represent an attractive entry point for these large, patient investors.

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Key Numbers

$13 trillionglobal sovereign wealth fund assets
$437 millionMubadala Investment Company's Bitcoin investment
February 2025Mubadala's investment date
$4.1 billionUS spot BTC ETF outflows this month
3,657 BTCStrategy's Bitcoin accumulation this month

Who's Involved

Basil Al Askari
CEO of MidChains, a regulated crypto trading platform
Mubadala Investment Company
Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund that invested in Bitcoin
Druk Holding and Investments
Bhutan's sovereign wealth fund and early Bitcoin holder
John D’Agostino
Coinbase's head of institutional strategy

↳ Why This Matters

The involvement of sovereign wealth funds in Bitcoin accumulation signals growing institutional conviction and could influence broader market sentiment and adoption, potentially impacting Bitcoin's long-term price trajectory.

Key facts

  • At least one sovereign wealth fund is accumulating spot Bitcoin, with potentially two more in the coming weeks.
  • MidChains CEO Basil Al Askari stated that current low prices are seen as an attractive entry point for these large institutional investors.
  • Sovereign wealth funds, which control over $13 trillion globally, signal state-level conviction when investing in assets like Bitcoin.
  • Mubadala Investment Company invested $437 million in Bitcoin via BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust in February 2025.
  • Family offices and government funds in the UAE are reportedly buying Bitcoin at a discount.

Sovereign wealth funds are actively accumulating spot Bitcoin, signaling that the current price level is attractive to institutional investors, according to Basil Al Askari, CEO of MidChains. He confirmed that at least one such fund has been buying Bitcoin, with expectations that one or two more may follow suit in the coming weeks.

Al Askari, speaking on Cointelegraph's "Chain Reaction" podcast, noted that while retail participation has slowed, institutional and corporate interest is growing. He characterized the current low price as an "entry level" for large sovereign funds that possess the patience for extended accumulation periods. These state-owned investment funds, collectively managing over $13 trillion globally, represent a significant signal of state-level conviction in Bitcoin.

While the immediate impact on Bitcoin's price may not be a massive cascade, Al Askari believes this move sends a clear signal to other institutions on the sidelines, encouraging them to experiment and get involved. He anticipates this will lead to greater adoption over the longer term.

Recent reports indicate that Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Company invested $437 million in Bitcoin via BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust in February 2025. Bhutan's Druk Holding and Investments, an early sovereign holder, has been selling some of its holdings this year.

John D’Agostino, Coinbase's head of institutional strategy, echoed this sentiment, stating that family offices and government funds in the UAE are pleased to acquire Bitcoin at a discount. This comes amid sustained outflows from U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, exceeding $4.1 billion this month, while corporate treasuries, such as Strategy, continue to accumulate, having bought 3,657 BTC this month.

Frequently asked questions

A sovereign wealth fund is a state-owned investment fund, typically capitalized by a country's reserves. Its investments signal state-level conviction rather than private speculation.

MidChains CEO Basil Al Askari confirmed at least one sovereign wealth fund is accumulating spot Bitcoin, with expectations that one or two more may join in the coming weeks. He described the current price as an attractive entry level for these funds.

Al Askari believes the immediate impact will not be a massive cascade, but it sends a clear signal to other institutions, potentially encouraging experimentation and involvement over the longer term.

What Happens Next

01Further accumulation by sovereign wealth funds is anticipated.
02Other institutions may follow the lead of sovereign funds in entering the Bitcoin market.

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Cadence

How It Developed

MidChains CEO Basil Al Askari confirmed at least one sovereign wealth fund is accumulating spot Bitcoin.
Al Askari indicated that one or two additional sovereign wealth funds may join in the coming weeks.
He described the current low price as an "entry level" for large funds with long-term accumulation strategies.
Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Company invested in Bitcoin via BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust in February 2025.
Bhutan's Druk Holding and Investments, an early sovereign holder, has been selling some Bitcoin this year.
Coinbase's head of institutional strategy, John D’Agostino, noted that family offices and government funds in the UAE are buying Bitcoin at a discount.

Sources

T1
Sovereign funds see Bitcoin discount as entry point: MidChains CEOIt sends “a very clear signal” to other institutions that may be sitting on the sidelines and looking at these larger funds as leaders, said MidChains CEO Basil Al Askari.Cointelegraph

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