In a notable shift in the investment landscape, billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones has increased his stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) by 18.9%, bringing his total holdings to 688,529 shares valued at approximately $22.9 million as of June 30, 2026. This marks a significant rebound for Tudor Investment Corp, which had been selling its Bitcoin ETF shares throughout 2025, particularly during Bitcoin’s record peak of $124,000.
The recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that Tudor’s investment has grown from 579,083 shares at the end of Q1 2026. With the current value estimated at around $24.5 million, this increase represents a small but noteworthy part of Tudor’s overall $106 billion asset portfolio.
Interestingly, alongside the increase in direct shares, Tudor’s report showed a dramatic decrease in call options tied to the Bitcoin ETF, which plummeted by 85.2% to 148,000 underlying shares from 998,000 in March. Meanwhile, put options saw a slight reduction, falling from 725,000 to 715,000 shares, indicating a strategic shift in how the hedge fund approaches its Bitcoin investments.
Jones has long positioned himself as a vocal advocate for Bitcoin, famously labeling it the “best inflation hedge” due to its capped supply. His advocacy began in earnest in May 2020, when he released a note titled “The Great Monetary Inflation,” arguing that Bitcoin represents a superior option in the ongoing battle against inflation driven by central bank monetary policies.
In a 2024 CNBC interview, Jones reiterated his bullish stance, stating he maintained positions in both gold and Bitcoin, while avoiding fixed income investments entirely. His view that Bitcoin offers a unique advantage over gold, particularly in its fixed supply, further strengthens his argument for the cryptocurrency in the current economic climate.
As of now, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust holds a commanding 49% of total assets in U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, which collectively stood at nearly $105 billion as of the second quarter of 2026. This robust market presence underscores the growing acceptance of Bitcoin as a legitimate asset class among institutional investors.
Tudor’s recent move to increase his Bitcoin ETF holdings coincided with Edelman Financial’s revelation of a $34 million position in a Bitcoin ETF, signaling a broader trend of traditional asset managers exploring regulated Bitcoin products.
The next quarterly filing from Tudor Investment Corp, covering the third quarter of 2026, is anticipated in mid-November, which will provide further insights into the hedge fund’s evolving stance on cryptocurrency investments.
