The recent Bitcoin (BTC) rally above $100,000, reaching its all-time high of $108k, has attracted conservative investors into the crypto space. Pension funds have started investing in cryptocurrency, driven by its promising returns. Thus, the recent crypto market rally and the Bitcoin price surge have marked the growth of crypto pension funds.
In a recent report, the Financial Times revealed that most crypto pension funds have begun showing interest in US-regulated ETFs, which enable indirect investment in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Many believe that the increasing demand for crypto among typically conservative schemes would lead to more institutional adoption, especially under the incoming President Donald Trump’s administration.
Crypto Pension Funds and ETF Investments
Reportedly, pension schemes in Wisconsin and Michigan are among the largest investors in US crypto-focused funds. In addition, UK and Australian pension funds have also started investing in Bitcoin recently, albeit in small amounts.
Notably, the State of Wisconsin Investment Board holds about a $155 million stake in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF. Michigan, being the sixth-largest shareholder in Grayscale’s Ethereum ETF, has a share of $12.9 million. It also holds a notable position in Cathie Wood’s ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF.
Pension Industry To Boom with Crypto Investments
Despite a “slow moving,” the pension industry is poised to experience “very interesting” growth due to its crypto influence, said Sam Roberts, director of investment consulting at Cartwright. As revealed by Roberts, more than 50 individuals approached the pension consultancy seeking a pivot to crypto-based retirement investments.
Although crypto pension funds starts expanding after major setbacks in the digital asset market, many believe the storm is passing. Experts see the growing acceptance of crypto as a driving force for the global crypto market growth. Alex Pollak, head of UK and Israel at 21Shares, stated, “There’s no doubt that the headwinds are disappearing . . . I think you’ll see more of this institutional adoption.”
However, crypto pension funds faced strong objections from Daniel Peters, a partner in Aon’s global investment practice. Instead, he recommended hedge funds as a more suitable option for pension funds seeking exposure to alternative assets. He stated,
We don’t think pensions funds should allocate to crypto — it’s highly volatile and we don’t see any robust valuation framework that can justify the value. We fundamentally don’t think this should be part of a pension fund strategy for those reasons unless they are allocated via a specialist manager.
Bitcoin’s Surge Post Trump’s Inauguration
Crypto experts and analysts eye Bitcoin’s rally after Trump’s inauguration on January 20. There are anticipations that the market will witness high volatility before and after the inaugural ceremony. While many assert crypto pension funds’ digital asset investments were driven by Bitcoin ETF, the industry awaits to see how the market movement could further influence conservative investors.
BTC price jumped 3% in the past 24 hours, with the price currently trading at $99,178. The 24-hour low and high are $96,505 and $100,781, respectively. Furthermore, the trading volume has increased by 11% in the last 24 hours, indicating a rise in interest among traders.
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