Brown University has disclosed a $4.9 million investment in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), marking its first known exposure to Bitcoin through its $7.2 billion endowment.
The university acquired 105,000 shares of the ETF during the first quarter of 2025, as reported in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Form 13F filing dated March 31.
This allocation represents approximately 0.07% of Brown’s total endowment, which returned 11.3% in fiscal year 2024. The investment aligns with a broader trend of U.S. academic institutions incorporating cryptocurrency into their portfolios.
Emory University previously reported holdings of nearly 2.7 million shares in the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF, initially valued at $15.1 million.
Additionally, the University of Austin partnered with Bitcoin financial services firm Unchained to raise $5 million for a Bitcoin endowment.
Brown’s entry into Bitcoin investment coincides with a period of increased institutional activity in cryptocurrency markets.
While some asset managers reduced their positions in Bitcoin ETFs amid market volatility, others, including Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala sovereign wealth fund, increased their holdings.
Analysts suggest that such movements indicate a sustained, incremental adoption of Bitcoin among institutional investors .
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