Wisconsin Pension Fund Sold $300M BlackRock Bitcoin ETF Stake Amid Tariff Turmoil, New Filing Shows
The State of Wisconsin Investment Board liquidated its $300 million stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust during the first quarter of 2025, as reported in a 13F filing with the SEC. The sale occurred amid market uncertainty due to new U.S. tariffs impacting global trade. The cutoff date for the filing was March 31, 2025, just before the U.S. imposed comprehensive tariffs on major trading partners. Prior to the sale, SWIB held over 6 million IBIT shares valued at approximately $321.5 million. The economic landscape shifted significantly following President Trump's inauguration, with aggressive trade policies leading to increased tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China. These tariffs contributed to market instability, pushing Bitcoin prices down to around $75,000. By mid-May, tensions eased as the U.S. and China reduced tariffs, with the U.S. lowering its rate on Chinese goods to 30%.
