Key Takeaways:

The University of Austin is launching a $5M Bitcoin fund as part of its $200M endowment, with a five-year holding strategy.
This move follows Emory University’s $15M Bitcoin ETF investment, signaling growing institutional interest in BTC.
The university sees Bitcoin as a long-term asset, comparable to stocks or real estate in value preservation.

The University of Austin is launching a $5 million Bitcoin investment fund, making it one of the first U.S. educational institutions to directly incorporate cryptocurrency into its endowment strategy.

This move is part of the university’s broader $200 million endowment fund and signals a commitment to staying ahead of financial innovation.

JUST IN: 🇺🇸 University of Austin to buy $5m Bitcoin.

"We don’t want to be left behind" says CIO of the university fund. pic.twitter.com/CUQpJGF5ZA
— Bitcoin Archive (@BTC_Archive) February 9, 2025

Chun Lai, the university’s chief investment officer, emphasized that they do not want to be left behind as cryptocurrency’s potential materializes.

The initiative follows a recent disclosure by Emory University, which became the first U.S. university endowment to publicly report a $15 million Bitcoin ETF investment through Grayscale.

Institutional interest in Bitcoin ETFs is growing, potentially bringing substantial capital into the crypto market.

The University of Austin’s five-year holding strategy reflects a belief in Bitcoin’s long-term value.

Chad Thevenot, senior vice president for advancement, compared the approach to traditional investments in stocks and real estate, indicating the university’s confidence in Bitcoin as a legitimate asset class.

With educational institutions increasingly exploring cryptocurrency investments, the University of Austin’s decision highlights the rising acceptance of Bitcoin in mainstream finance and its growing role in endowment portfolios.