The prestigious Brown University just dipped its toes into the crypto waters, and it’s already paying off. The Ivy League institution dropped $4.9 million into BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust during the first quarter of 2025, snagging 105,000 shares of IBIT. Talk about timing – that investment has already swelled to $5.79 million. Not bad for a few months’ work.
This isn’t just pocket change for Brown, but it’s not exactly breaking the bank either. The Bitcoin ETF purchase represents 2.3% of their $216 million equity portfolio, a tiny slice of their massive $7 billion total endowment. IBIT’s impressive performance includes 13 consecutive days of inflows, demonstrating strong institutional demand. The university’s strategic diversification reflects a modern approach to portfolio management.
Brown’s Bitcoin bet is small but significant – just 2.3% of their stock holdings and a drop in their $7B endowment ocean.
Still, it’s a bold move for an institution that’s traditionally stuck to more conventional investments. Among the top 20 cryptocurrencies that dominate 90% of the market’s total value, Bitcoin remains the most recognized and trusted option. Brown isn’t alone in this crypto adventure. They’re actually following in the footsteps of Emory University, which went all-in with nearly 2.7 million shares of the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF, and the University of Austin, which committed to a $5 million Bitcoin endowment fund.
These ivy-covered walls are starting to look a bit more digital. The investment choice itself is pretty shrewd. Instead of dealing with the headache of managing actual Bitcoin tokens, Brown opted for BlackRock’s IBIT ETF – a SEC-approved fund that’s been crushing it since its January 2024 launch.
The trust holds a whopping 576,000 BTC, worth about $47.78 billion as of March 2024. The move was revealed through an SEC filing on May 2, 2025, and it’s already contributing to Brown’s impressive portfolio performance, which saw an 11.3% return in 2024.
For an institution based in Providence, Rhode Island, they’re showing some Silicon Valley-style thinking. This investment isn’t just about the returns – it’s a signal. When prestigious universities start buying Bitcoin ETFs, it’s a pretty clear sign that digital assets are moving from the fringes to the mainstream.
Who would’ve thought that the same institutions that once taught about the dangers of speculation would now be riding the Bitcoin wave?
