One of America’s oldest universities just placed a massive bet on Bitcoin. Brown University has jumped into the crypto game, investing $4.9 million in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust during the first quarter of 2025. And guess what? They’re already up 18%.
The Ivy League institution snagged 105,000 shares of IBIT, making cryptocurrency investments 2.3% of their $216 million equity portfolio. Not bad for a school that’s been around since 1764. Welcome to the digital age, Brown. The university’s investment has already grown to 5.79 million dollars in value. The investment’s success demonstrates how network effects drive cryptocurrency value as more institutional players enter the market.
This isn’t just another random investment. Brown becomes the third U.S. university to publicly announce a Bitcoin purchase, following Emory University and the University of Austin. It’s like an exclusive club, except instead of fancy robes, they’re wearing Bitcoin hoodies.
Elite universities are quietly forming their own crypto club, trading traditional endowments for bold Bitcoin plays through institutional ETFs.
BlackRock’s IBIT has been crushing it since its January 2024 launch. With 576,000 Bitcoin under management and assets worth $47.78 billion by March’s end, it’s become one of the hottest ETFs around. The fund has seen 13 consecutive days of steady inflows, showcasing remarkable investor confidence. Traditional finance meets crypto – who would’ve thought?
The timing couldn’t be more interesting. While some universities are still debating whether cryptocurrency is a legitimate asset class, Emory’s already gone all in with nearly 2.7 million shares of the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF. They even bought Coinbase stock, just to cover all their bases.
Brown’s move signals a bigger shift in how institutions view digital assets. Instead of dealing with crypto wallets and private keys, they’re taking the Wall Street route through approved ETFs. Smart move – let BlackRock handle the technical stuff.
The investment is part of Brown’s larger $7 billion portfolio, which saw an 11.3% return in 2024. Now they’re betting Bitcoin can help push those numbers even higher. Currently trading at $55.19 per share, IBIT has already proven it’s not just another passing fad.
Who’s next? As more universities jump on the Bitcoin bandwagon, one thing’s clear: cryptocurrency isn’t just for tech bros anymore. Even the ivory tower crowd wants in.
