Pension Funds Consider Bitcoin Amid Rising Interest in Crypto Investments
As institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies grows, pension funds in various countries are exploring Bitcoin for their investment portfolios.
Overview
Traditionally conservative investors are increasingly exploring Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies as part of their portfolios. Pension schemes in the US, UK, and Australia have started to allocate small portions of their portfolios to Bitcoin. A 16 January 2025 FT report highlighted the State of Wisconsin Investment Board becoming the 12th largest shareholder in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, with holdings worth approximately $155 million after a 50% price surge in Q4 2024.
Pension Funds Related Investment Often Leverage Regulated ETFs
The trend is not limited to the US. Other countries are also making strides. In Australia, AMP included Bitcoin futures in its portfolios to enhance returns while managing risks associated with direct ownership. In the UK, consultancy Cartwright has advised on direct Bitcoin allocations for small pension schemes.
BREAKING: 🇦🇺 Australian pension fund AMP invests $27M in #Bitcoin, becoming the first large superannuation fund to do so. This is just the beginning tweet — Swan (@Swan) December 13, 2024
Similarly, Michigan’s pension fund has invested in Grayscale’s Ethereum ETF and ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF, reflecting a growing interest in crypto-focused ETFs.
🚨 State of Michigan Retirement System has #Bitcoin ETF exposure per 13F SEC filings. The Pension Funds are coming tweet — Thomas | heyapollo.com (@thomas_fahrer) July 26, 2024
Spot Bitcoin ETFs have gained traction since their approval in early 2024, simplifying access for institutional investors and driving significant inflows into the crypto market. In the UK, an unnamed pension scheme allocated 3% of its £50 million portfolio to Bitcoin, marking the first such move in the country.
The Trump administration’s pro-crypto stance has bolstered optimism for institutional adoption. Policies aimed at reducing regulatory barriers could further accelerate pension fund investments in digital assets.
Which Crypto Will Boom in 2025?
Our first pick is Oasis Network ($ROSE)!
Oasis takes the privacy angle seriously. Its layer-1 blockchain splits the heavy lifting between consensus and execution, giving it the edge on scalability and remaining airtight on privacy. This makes it perfect for DeFi and tokenizing data while laying the foundation for smarter blockchain applications to come.
Next up is Immutable ($IMX).
$IMX takes Ethereum’s NFT scene to the next level. A layer-2 solution, it promises instant trades, zero gas charges, and hardcore user custody. It focuses on scaling NFTs for the masses without losing the plot, making it a top contender as digital collectibles explode.
Lastly, we have to mention Flux ($FLUX).
Flux shifts the paradigm on cloud computing, allowing developers to take control with a decentralized network of independent nodes. It is designed for scalable dApps, moving away from centralized services towards a setup defined by trust, transparency, and robust reliability.