Brown University invested $4.9 million in BlackRock’s Ishares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the first reported to Bitcoin (BTC), according to a recent 13F filing filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Ivy League institution acquired 105,000 shares in the ETF in the first quarter, accounting for approximately 2.3% of its reported $216 million shareholdings.
This purchase adds brown to the growing roster of traditional institutions that are turning to vehicles regulated for exposure to digital assets.
Adoption via Bitcoin ETF
Designed to track Bitcoin prices directly, Spot Bitcoin ETFs are widely adopted in hedge funds, pensions and current university contributions.
BlackRock’s IBIT has emerged as an institution’s favourable entry point since it was approved by the SEC in January 2024. Less than a year later, the fund has become one of the best performing ETFs in market history.
As of March 31, IBIT holds approximately 576,038 Bitcoins, equivalent to a net worth of $477.8 billion.
Brown’s decision reflects a wider trend among long-term asset managers seeking Bitcoin exposure through their familiar financial structures. Spot ETFs like IBIT allow institutions to access Bitcoin without the operational burden of custody or direct token management.
Bitcoin-based universities
While university contributions remain largely cautious, there have been changes over the past few months. Austin University announced in February that it would allocate $5 million in donations to Bitcoin.
The fund was held in collaboration with UNChained and was established with a minimum holding period of five years.
Other schools, including Stanford and Emory, have also reported exposure to Bitcoin through regulated investment products. These moves suggest the gradual normalization of digital assets within institutional portfolios that were once considered too conservative for crypto holdings.
At the time of disclosure, Bitcoin was trading for just under $97,000. Encryption data.
Bitcoin Market Data
When reporting May 1:40 AM UTC. 3, 2025Bitcoin ranks number one in terms of market capitalization, and the price is under 0.02% Over the past 24 hours. Bitcoin has a market capitalization $1.92 trillion 24-hour trading volume $253.9 billion. Learn more about Bitcoin›
Overview of the Crypto Market
When reporting May 1:40 AM UTC. 3, 2025Crypto market totals are evaluated by 3.01 trillion dollars There is a 24-hour volume $70.18 billion. Bitcoin’s advantage is currently underway 63.80%. Crypto Market Details›
