Endowments eye crypto allocations amid tougher return outlook for traditional investments

Lower expected gains from traditional assets have prompted some funds to test bitcoin and ether exposure to diversify portfolios. What to know : Endowments and foundations are preparing for weaker returns from traditional assets as high equity valuations, tight credit spreads and crowded private markets limit opportunities. Investment chiefs say lower expected returns threaten the sustainability of payout models, pushing institutions to move further out on the risk curve and experiment with new strategies. Some major universities, including Harvard and Brown, have begun using bitcoin and ether ETFs as small, high-volatility satellite positions, signaling that digital assets have entered the mainstream institutional toolkit.