In a bold move that might raise a few eyebrows—or at least spark some lively debate over coffee, Brown University has dipped its toes into the murky waters of cryptocurrency by investing a cool $4.9 million in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). This marks the Ivy League institution’s first foray into crypto exposure, and it’s about time they caught up.
With 105,000 shares purchased, Brown now holds a tidy 2.3% of its $216 million equity portfolio in the form of Bitcoin.
Brown’s investment in Bitcoin now accounts for a sleek 2.3% of its $216 million equity portfolio.
How did we get here? Well, the public learned about this little gamble thanks to Brown’s SEC 13F-HR filing, which revealed their holdings as of March 31, 2025. They now join the ranks of Emory and UATX as just the third U.S. university to dip into Bitcoin. But is this a trend or just a flashy stunt?
Let’s talk numbers. BlackRock’s IBIT dominates the ETF scene, boasting an impressive $57 billion in assets under management as of March 2025. It’s the most successful ETF launch among spot Bitcoin products, making it the go-to for institutions seeking compliant crypto exposure—no messy custody issues here. It’s practically a VIP pass into the crypto club.
Brown’s total endowment stands at $7 billion, with a respectable 11.3% return in 2024. Clearly, they’re looking to diversify, and crypto derivatives are now part of the mix. But hold up! Is this a strategic shift toward alternatives or just a response to peer pressure? Notably, Brown is now the first Ivy League school to buy Bitcoin, reflecting the growing interest in institutional adoption].
Meanwhile, institutional adoption of spot Bitcoin ETFs is on the rise. Hedge funds and pension funds are all in, and universities are starting to follow suit, exploring crypto as a hedge against inflation.
With regulatory clarity paving the way, it seems like everyone is jumping on the Bitcoin bandwagon. And let’s face it, Brown’s move might just be a case of playing catch-up in this rapidly changing landscape.
