Wisconsin Pension Fund Exits $300M Bitcoin ETF Position

Benzinga
16 May

The State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) has fully divested its position in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust IBIT, a move confirmed in an SEC filing on May 15.

The liquidation of its entire 6 million-share stake, worth over $300 million, was completed by March 31, just before the start of a volatile quarter marked by intensifying global trade tensions.

The timing of the sale is notable.

It came two days before "Liberation Day" on April 2, when the U.S. implemented sweeping tariffs that upended global trade.

The policy marked a dramatic escalation in President Donald Trump's efforts to reshape American trade by encouraging domestic manufacturing and penalizing foreign imports.

Throughout February and March, the White House introduced a flurry of tariffs: 25% on Canadian and Mexican goods (later paused), a 10% duty on Chinese imports, and increased levies on steel and aluminum.

The standoff reached a boiling point in March, when U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods hit 145%, prompting Beijing to retaliate with 125% tariffs on U.S. products.

Also Read: 3 Key Drivers Behind Ethereum’s 65% Rally: Bernstein

Trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and More Instantly — No Wallets, No Hassle

Speculate on price movements, claim up to $200 in bonuses, and start with risk-free paper trading with crypto futures on Plus500.

Disclosure: 82% of retail CFD accounts lose money

Amid this tit-for-tat escalation, financial markets responded with turbulence.

At the height of tariff retaliation, Bitcoin BTC/USD sank below $75,000.

By mid-May, signs of de-escalation emerged.

Both the U.S. and China agreed to temporarily reduce tariffs, with the U.S. lowering rates on Chinese goods to 30% and China dropping its own tariffs to 10%.

Trump also suspended most reciprocal tariffs on other allies.

SWIB's decision to offload its Bitcoin ETF holdings before this policy storm suggests the fund was seeking to reduce exposure to risk assets amid macroeconomic uncertainty.

Loading...
Loading...

Read Next:

  • Eric Trump: Bitcoin Accumulation Is ‘A Race To The Top’

Image: Shutterstock

$BTCBitcoin
$103668.86-0.12%

Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only

Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock – anytime.

Unlock Rankings
Edge Rankings
Momentum
90.45
Price Trend
Short
Medium
Long
Overview
$ETHEthereum
$2629.453.16%
IBITiShares Bitcoin Trust
$59.030.61%
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.

Most Discussed

  1. 1
     
     
     
     
  2. 2
     
     
     
     
  3. 3
     
     
     
     
  4. 4
     
     
     
     
  5. 5
     
     
     
     
  6. 6
     
     
     
     
  7. 7
     
     
     
     
  8. 8
     
     
     
     
  9. 9
     
     
     
     
  10. 10