Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
6d ago

Wisconsin Pension Fund Completes $300M Bitcoin ETF Exit Before Tariff Escalation

The State of Wisconsin Investment Board sold its entire Bitcoin ETF stake by March 31, just ahead of sweeping U.S. trade tariffs that disrupted global markets.

Bitcoin ETF BlackRock ishares bitcoin trust State of Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin Pension Fund State of Wisconsin Investment Board
Image

Overview

  • The State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) fully divested its 6 million-share stake in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), valued at over $300 million, as confirmed by a May 15 SEC filing.
  • The liquidation was finalized on March 31, 2025, two days before the April 2 implementation of comprehensive U.S. tariffs, known as 'Liberation Day.'
  • SWIB had doubled its IBIT holdings in late 2024, making its subsequent exit a rapid reversal of strategy influenced by rising market risks.
  • Bitcoin prices fell below $75,000 in response to escalating U.S.-China trade tensions, with Ethereum also hitting two-year lows during the tariff disputes.
  • By mid-May, signs of tariff de-escalation emerged, but SWIB's timely exit highlights its focus on mitigating exposure to volatile macroeconomic conditions.