Bitcoins
Brown University has joined the list of U.S. institutions investing in Bitcoin via exchange-traded funds. According to its recent 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the university reported a $4.9 million position in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT).
Brown University made the investment during the first quarter of 2025, amounting to 105,000 shares. In addition, the investment represents roughly 2.3% of the university’s $216 million equity holdings for that period.
Interestingly, this is the first time Brown University has revealed any allocation to a Bitcoin-related product. The investments reflect a broader trend among traditional institutions seeking indirect exposure to crypto assets through regulated financial instruments.
IBIT was launched in January 2024 and has since gone on to become a mainstream product. It allows investors to track Bitcoin’s price performance without holding the asset directly. As of the end of March 2024, the fund managed over $47 billion in assets and held around 576,000 BTC, according to public data.
Most U.S.-based universities have been cautious with crypto exposure, but a few, including Brown, are now stepping into the market via ETFs. This shows that most institutions have an appetite for regulated Bitcoin investments.
???????? $7.2 BILLION BROWN UNIVERSITY JUST BOUGHT $4,900,000 WORTH OF #BITCOIN ETF
ENDOWMENTS ARE BUYING BTC!!! ???? pic.twitter.com/sNIEG0BUVk
— Vivek⚡️ (@Vivek4real_) May 2, 2025
Universities show interest in Bitcoin
Brown University is not the only institution showing interest in a Bitcoin product. The University of Austin already included a Bitcoin fund in its $200 million endowment strategy. The school views Bitcoin as a long-term investment, similar to real estate.
Emory University holds $15M in Bitcoin, making them the first university to disclose a Bitcoin ETF position ???? pic.twitter.com/LgKj6POLni
— The Bitcoin Express (@The_BTC_Express) October 28, 2024
Emory University also holds nearly 2.7 million Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust shares. Stanford University students allocated 7% of their Blyth Fund to Bitcoin.
Disclaimer
The information discussed by Altcoin Buzz is not financial advice. This is for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes only. Any information or strategies are thoughts and opinions relevant to the accepted risk tolerance levels of the writer/reviewers, and their risk tolerance may differ from yours. We are not responsible for any losses you may incur due to any investments directly or indirectly related to the information provided. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk investments, so please do your due diligence. Copyright Altcoin Buzz Pte Ltd.
Augustine Antes Read More