Get the Scoop on Brown University's Bitcoin Investment
In a Nutshell
- Brown University's Bitcoin Holdings via iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) revealed in a SEC filing.
- Endowment reported to hold around $4.9 million worth of IBIT as of Q1 2025.
- The IBIT shares, valued at approximately $5.8 million currently, are a minor portion of the endowment's overall value.
Delve into the Scene
Brown University Invests Millions in Bitcoin Through BlackRock ETF Shares
Brown University, an Ivy League institution, has revealed a substantial Bitcoin investment via BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT). SEC filings show that the university held 105,000 shares of IBIT, worth $4.9 million as of the end of Q1 2025. This position, while significant, only makes up a small fraction of the endowment's total value of over $7.2 billion as of 2024.
"Over the past few decades, the financial markets have significantly increased in complexity, and as the value of the endowment has grown, Brown has adapted," states its 2024 endowment report. "Today, a team of professional investors pursues a diverse set of investment strategies that require high levels of expertise and investment acumen."
The university's portfolio also encompasses a variety of diversified holdings such as stocks, bonds, private companies, real estate, and commodities. The trend of universities investing in Bitcoin ETFs is growing, with Brown joining the ranks of other institutions like Emory University and the University of Austin.
Emory University, for instance, holds 2,678,906 shares of the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF, according to recent reports. Although the exact dollar value isn't explicitly provided in the filings, the size of this position indicates a substantial allocation.
The University of Austin announced a $5 million long-term endowment fund specifically allocated to Bitcoin in 2024, demonstrating institutional confidence in the digital asset's long-term value.
Other institutions, such as publicly traded companies and even world governments, are also racing to gain access to this rapidly growing market. The rising interest in Bitcoin reflects the increasing mainstream acceptance of digital assets.
The price of Bitcoin neared $98,000 on Friday for the first time since February, rebounding from a local low around $75,000 in early April.
Decrypt reached out to Brown's investment office for comment but was unable to receive a response by the time of publication.
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- Brown University, following the trend of other institutions, has invested in crypto through BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), according to SEC filings.
- The university's Bitcoin investment, valued at around $4.9 million as of Q1 2025, is a minor portion of the endowment's overall worth of over $7.2 billion in 2024.
- The university's portfolio also includes various diversified holdings such as stocks, bonds, private companies, real estate, and commodities, with IBIT being a part of the crypto sector.
- Emory University, another institution, holds a substantial number of shares in the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF, indicating a significant allocation in Bitcoin.
- The University of Austin has allocated a $5 million long-term endowment fund specifically for Bitcoin, demonstrating their confidence in the digital asset's long-term value.
- The rising interest in Bitcoin from various institutions, including publicly traded companies and world governments, reflects the increasing mainstream acceptance of digital assets.
- As the value of Bitcoin neared $98,000 on Friday, institutions and individual investors alike are looking at crypto as a promising investment opportunity in the realm of finance and technology.
