Feb 14 (Reuters) - Asset managers, ranging from wealth

management companies to hedge funds and pension funds, boosted

allocations to U.S. exchange-traded funds tied to the price of

bitcoin in the fourth quarter of 2024, as the price of the

world's largest cryptocurrency soared 47%, according to recent

regulatory filings.

The State of Wisconsin Investment Board disclosed in its

quarterly 13-F filings with the Securities and Exchange

Commission that its bitcoin ETF holdings more than doubled in

the final three months of last year, to 6 million shares of the

iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF by December 31. The fund,

which was the first fund of its kind to report investing in

crypto following the debut of bitcoin ETFs, couldn't immediately

be reached for comment.

Other large investment funds also boosted their holdings in

the ETFs, which launched in January 2024.

Tudor Investment Corp, a systematic hedge fund manager,

reported its holdings of the iShares ETF -- now the largest of

the pack, with more than $55 billion in assets -- climbed to 8

million shares, from 4.4 million shares. The value of those

holdings also soared, reflecting bitcoin's jump in value,

hitting $426.9 million, up from $159.9 million at the end of

September. Tudor didn't immediately respond to a request for

comment.

An Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala Investment Co,

reported its first foray into bitcoin ETFs in the fourth

quarter, taking a 8.2 million share stake in the iShares ETF

that was worth $436.9 million.

Hedge fund Hunting Hill Capital had no exposure to these

ETFs as of the end of the third quarter, but by December 31 had

re-emerged as a significant investor, with positions valued at

about $131 million by the end of the year.

"We've been actively trading within the broader crypto ETF

complex, and the timing of the third-quarter filing may not have

aligned with when we bought and sold various ETFs," said Adam

Guren, founder and chief investment officer of the firm.

The ranks of those adding to positions included financial

advisory firms whose clients have been eager buyers of bitcoin

ETFs. Cetera Advisors and NewEdge Advisers were among firms that

boosted holdings in several of the ETFs, including products

offered by Fidelity, ARK Investments and Invesco ( IVZ ).

Other investors were more selective, the filings showed.

Cresset Asset Management boosted its exposure to ETFs carrying

lower fees, said Jack Ablin, the firm's chief investment

officer.

"It's also possible right now to get attractive options

pricing for collar strategies, allowing us to protect the

downside while giving away less of the upside in exchange, on

these bitcoin funds," Ablin said.

The 13F filings are one of the few ways to get insight into

how institutional investors are positioned at the end of every

quarter. The positions may not reflect current holdings.