The great state of Wisconsin hit the headlines this week with news of a surprising investment move! In a recent filing with the SEC, the state disclosed its purchase of 94,562 shares of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and $63 million worth of Grayscale’s spot Bitcoin ETF (GBTC). This groundbreaking move marks Wisconsin as the first state to invest in a crypto asset.
Signal Of a Market shift?
The Wisconsin Investment Board, responsible for managing the state’s pension fund exceeding $150 billion, orchestrated this pioneering move. The board decided to allocate a significant portion of its assets into the Bitcoin ETFs; showcasing a strategic shift in investment philosophy from a traditional investment entity, potentially indicating a growing acceptance of digital assets among institutional investors.
Historically, institutional players have been cautious about venturing into crypto due to regulatory uncertainties and volatility. However, with the recent approval of Bitcoin ETFs by the SEC, institutional investors are increasingly exploring avenues to gain exposure.
The move has prompted other states, such as New Hampshire, to consider similar investment strategies, reflecting a growing interest in crypto as a “viable” asset class.
Moreover, the involvement of major banks and hedge funds in Bitcoin ETFs further underscores the mainstream acceptance of digital assets. Institutions like JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Millennium Management have disclosed substantial investments in spot Bitcoin ETFs.
Other Major Investments
Legacy Wealth and United Capital Management have made a significant investment in Bitcoin, injecting $20 million through Fidelity’s ETF. Both firms have allocated a notable portion of their portfolios, 6% and 5% respectively, to the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), showcasing a strong commitment to diversifying into digital assets.
this random boomer wealth management company from Kansas bought $20M of the bitcoin ETF lol. absolute chads.
this is the beginning of the floodgates tbh. imagine all the thousands of small companies like this across America, slowly increasing their allo's
bull run just starting pic.twitter.com/OO503euias
— DANIEL GOT HITS (@danielgothits) May 12, 2024
In parallel, Borroe Finance has raised nearly $4 million by monetizing future earnings via NFTs, positioning itself as a prominent player in the DeFi space. Borroe Finance’s innovative approach involves converting future earnings into NFTs, which can be traded in a streamlined P2P ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
As Wisconsin takes the lead in embracing Bitcoin, it sets a precedent for other institutional investors to follow suit. While the crypto market remains volatile, the entry of institutional capital could bring more stability and mainstream legitimacy to the asset class, paving the way for broader adoption and integration into traditional investment portfolios.
This is a Contributor Post. Opinions expressed here are opinions of the Contributor. Influencive does not endorse or review brands mentioned; does not and cannot investigate relationships with brands, products, and people mentioned and is up to the Contributor to disclose. Contributors, amongst other accounts and articles may be professional fee-based.