Brown University Allocates $4.9 Million in BlackRock's Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)
Let's Talk About the Crypto Craze Sweeping Universities!
You won't believe the latest news! Brown University has just dropped a bomb by investing a whopping $4.9 million in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust. This move marks their first reported venture into a spot Bitcoin ETF, and it's clear as day that institutions are getting warmer and warmer to Bitcoin.
The investment was revealed through a 13F filing, which showed that the university snatched up 105,000 shares in the first quarter of 2025. With this move, Brown set a blazing trail for other institutions to follow suit.
BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust has been a big player in the wave of spot Bitcoin ETFs approved by the SEC in January 2024. These ETFs have been flying off the shelves, rapidly accumulating shareholders – from hedge funds to pensions, and now, an Ivy League university!
Now, you might be wondering, why the sudden change of heart from universities? Universities historically have been a bit skittish about digital assets. They usually favor indirect exposure or give them a wide berth altogether. However, Brown's move seems to be indicating a shift in institutional risk appetite towards regulated Bitcoin products.
And it looks like they're not the only ones jumping on the crypto bandwagon. The University of Austin launched a $5 million Bitcoin fund as part of its $200 million endowment strategy in February. They teamed up with Unchained, managing the custody of their Bitcoin holdings, and committed to hanging onto their digital gold for at least five years. They consider it as a long-term investment, similar to stocks or real estate.
Emory and Stanford have also dipped their toes into the crypto pool, investing in Grayscale's Bitcoin Mini Trust and BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin ETF.
With Bitcoin gaining traction as a digital gold among institutions, experts like H.C. Wainwright are forecasting a bullish $521 price target. It looks like the future is bright, crypto-wise, for our beloved universities.
Now, if you're thinking that universities are the new wildcards in the crypto game, think again. Institutions have been warming up to Bitcoin for a while now. The main players – asset managers, banks, and sovereign entities – have been driving this crypto craze. But with universities joining the party, it's only a matter of time before the crypto universe expands even further.
- Brown University recently invested $4.9 million in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust, marking their first entry into a spot Bitcoin ETF.
- This investment was made in the first quarter of 2025, as revealed in a 13F filing.
- BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust is a significant player in the wave of spot Bitcoin ETFs approved by the SEC in January 2024.
- Other institutions like the University of Austin, Emory, and Stanford have also invested in Bitcoin, either through BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin ETF or Grayscale's Bitcoin Mini Trust.
- With universities investing in Bitcoin, experts predict a bullish price target of $521 for Bitcoin.
- Asset managers, banks, and sovereign entities have been driving the crypto craze, and with universities investing as well, the crypto universe is expected to expand further in the future.
