TLDR:
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Brown University reported $4.9M worth of Bitcoin exposure via 105,000 shares of BlackRock’s IBIT ETF.
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The position marks the Ivy League school's first known crypto-linked investment.
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The endowment now exceeds $7.2B and includes a broad range of assets.
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Other universities including Emory and UATX also hold Bitcoin through various funds.
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Bitcoin is trading near $96,000, with institutional adoption continuing to grow.
Ivy League Endowment Quietly Joins the Bitcoin Club
Brown University, one of the U.S.'s elite Ivy League institutions, has revealed exposure to Bitcoin through BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT). According to its latest SEC filing, the school holds 105,000 shares, worth around $4.9 million as of March 31.
The holding was not present in Brown’s previous quarterly filing, indicating a new position. The value of those shares has since risen to roughly $5.8 million, tracking Bitcoin’s recent price increase to over $96,000.
Bitcoin Finds a Place in Institutional Portfolios
While modest compared to Brown’s $7.2 billion endowment, the position signals growing institutional acceptance of Bitcoin as a portfolio asset. The school’s 2024 endowment report noted a shift toward more sophisticated strategies as financial markets grow more complex.
Brown’s portfolio already includes a mix of equities, private companies, real estate, and commodities. Bitcoin now joins that diversified mix via a regulated ETF structure.
Universities Gradually Embrace Crypto Exposure
Brown is not the first university to allocate funds toward digital assets. In 2024, the University of Austin (UATX) collaborated with Unchained to create a $5 million Bitcoin endowment. Atlanta’s Emory University also disclosed exposure to nearly $16 million worth of BTC via Grayscale’s Mini Trust, now up to around $22 million.
These moves place educational institutions alongside hedge funds, public companies, and governments seeking to tap into Bitcoin’s long-term potential.
