Emory University has significantly strengthened its Bitcoin exposure. The Georgia-based educational institution increased its university investment in Bitcoin ETF to $51.8 million. The increase is detailed in its quarterly 13F report filed with the SEC on Wednesday.
The filing reveals that Emory now holds over 1 million shares of the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC). This represents a notable 245% increase from its initial investment. The university had reported $15 million in this fund in October 2024. Since the second quarter, Emory added 487,636 shares, valued at $25 million.
Grayscale’s “Mini” ETF was launched in July 2024. It is positioned as a low-cost option. Its annual management fee is only 0.15%. This contrasts sharply with the 1.5% of its original fund, GBTC. Furthermore, Emory maintains a smaller position in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBit), valued at $290,000.
Is Emory picking winners in the ETF fee wars?
Emory’s strategy is noteworthy in the context of fund flows. Grayscale’s original products faced massive outflows, losing $21.3 billion in 2024. On the other hand, BlackRock dominated capital inflows last year. BlackRock’s IBIT fund has attracted $37.4 billion in 2025 alone, showing a clear market preference.
The growing university investment in Bitcoin ETF by Emory underscores a key trend. Institutions seek regulated exposure to the cryptocurrency, but are very sensitive to fees. This move reinforces Bitcoin’s legitimacy as an institutional reserve asset. The market will watch to see if other universities follow this adoption path.
