Bitcoin News Today: Brown University Boosts Bitcoin ETF Stake to $13M Amid Institutional Shift

Brown University has significantly increased its Bitcoin exposure by nearly doubling its stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) ETF, with holdings now valued at $13 million [1]. The move reflects a strategic shift in the university’s endowment strategy, moving away from traditional assets toward digital and alternative investments. The latest position was established following a March 2025 initial investment and is part of a broader trend among elite educational institutions to adopt cryptocurrency-backed ETFs [4].

The investment office at Brown led the acquisition of 212,500 shares in IBIT, a product managed by BlackRock, which had already accumulated over $88 billion in assets under management by the second quarter of 2025 [2]. The university did not disclose its rationale for the move, and neither Brown’s leadership nor BlackRock’s management provided commentary [1]. However, the purchase highlights a growing institutional confidence in Bitcoin as a legitimate asset class.

This decision comes on the heels of a similar move by Harvard University, which reportedly invested $116 million in the same ETF, holding more IBIT shares than in Alphabet stock [8]. Brown appears to have freed up capital by divesting from other traditional ETFs, such as the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) [1], further indicating a broader reallocation of endowment capital from regional equity markets toward crypto-based instruments.

Eric Balchunas, Senior ETF Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, noted that endowments are typically hesitant to engage with ETFs, making Brown’s move significant in the context of institutional adoption [6]. While the $13 million investment is modest compared to Brown’s overall endowment size, it signals a strategic interest in cryptocurrency exposure and contributes to Bitcoin’s growing institutional legitimacy [1].

The increased institutional participation is likely to enhance Bitcoin’s liquidity and improve price discovery, especially as more endowments and pension funds consider digital assets as part of their diversified portfolios [4]. This trend is supported by regulatory transparency, as the transactions are disclosed through official SEC filings, ensuring accountability and clarity for market participants [6].

Brown University’s decision to boost its Bitcoin ETF holdings is emblematic of a new phase in institutional investment behavior, driven by the need for diversification and the potential for long-term returns amid macroeconomic uncertainties [7]. As more universities explore alternative asset allocations, the broader financial markets may witness continued normalization of crypto assets.

Source:

[1] https://www.pionline.com/institutional-investors/endowments-foundations/pi-brown-university-dumps-japan-american-century-boosts-crypto-etf/

[4] https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-news-today-harvard-brown-boost-bitcoin-etf-holdings-institutional-shift-2508/

[6] https://coinpedia.org/news/sec-filings-show-harvard-and-brown-universities-bought-bitcoin-via-blackrocks-ibit-in-q2/

[7] https://www.bitrue.com/blog/why-harvard-holding-blackrocks-bitcoin-spot-etf

[8] https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-news-today-harvard-allocates-116m-blackrock-bitcoin-etf-exceeding-tech-stock-holdings-2508/