Brown University’s Investment in Bitcoin
In a notable shift towards embracing digital assets, Brown University has announced a substantial $4.9 million investment in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). This move represents the university’s first documented entry into the realm of a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), indicated by a recent 13F filing disclosing the acquisition of 105,000 shares.
This position was established during the first quarter of 2025 and emphasizes the rising interest from institutional players in Bitcoin (BTC) through established financial avenues.
Details of the Investment
The 13F filing also reveals that Brown University holds a total of $216 million distributed among 14 different investments, which means their stake in the iShares Bitcoin Trust constitutes around 2.3% of their overall portfolio.
BlackRock’s IBIT has recently emerged as a significant contender in the burgeoning market for spot Bitcoin ETFs, particularly following its SEC approval in January 2024, leading to an increase in institutional involvement involving various types of organizations—from hedge funds to pension funds, and now, academic institutions.
Changing Attitudes Towards Cryptocurrency
Historically, university endowments have approached investments in digital currencies with caution, preferring to limit exposure or seek indirect methods. Brown University’s recent decision seems to indicate a potential evolution in the acceptance of regulated Bitcoin assets among institutional investors.
Further reflecting this trend, the University of Austin recently introduced a $5 million Bitcoin fund as a segment of its broader $200 million endowment strategy. This Bitcoin initiative, initiated earlier this year in collaboration with Unchained, is designed to ensure that the university retains its Bitcoin holdings for a minimum of five years, viewing them as long-term assets that can perform similarly to stocks or real estate.
Other academic institutions, such as Emory University and Stanford University, have already ventured into Bitcoin investments through allocations in Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust and BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF, highlighting a growing acceptance of cryptocurrency in higher education finance.
