Brown University Bets $4.9M on Bitcoin via IBIT

Brown University has joined the list of U.S. institutions investing in Bitcoin via exchange-traded funds. According to its recent 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the university reported a $4.9 million position in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT).

Brown University made the investment during the first quarter of 2025, amounting to 105,000 shares. In addition, the investment represents roughly 2.3% of the university’s $216 million equity holdings for that period.

Interestingly, this is the first time Brown University has revealed any allocation to a Bitcoin-related product. The investments reflect a broader trend among traditional institutions seeking indirect exposure to crypto assets through regulated financial instruments.

IBIT was launched in January 2024 and has since gone on to become a mainstream product. It allows investors to track Bitcoin’s price performance without holding the asset directly. As of the end of March 2024, the fund managed over $47 billion in assets and held around 576,000 BTC, according to public data.

Most U.S.-based universities have been cautious with crypto exposure, but a few, including Brown, are now stepping into the market via ETFs. This shows that most institutions have an appetite for regulated Bitcoin investments.

Universities show interest in Bitcoin

Brown University is not the only institution showing interest in a Bitcoin product. The University of Austin already included a Bitcoin fund in its $200 million endowment strategy. The school views Bitcoin as a long-term investment, similar to real estate.

Emory University also holds nearly 2.7 million Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust shares. Stanford University students allocated 7% of their Blyth Fund to Bitcoin.

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