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The Texas state government has advanced its digital asset strategy with a $5 million investment in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF.
It has also reserved another $5 million for a direct Bitcoin purchase once its custody framework is complete.
The transaction occurred initially on November 20. Lee Bratcher, president of the Texas Blockchain Council, later shared the details in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Bratcher said that Texas ultimately intends to self-custody its Bitcoin. However, the necessary operational systems are still being finalized. In the meantime, the state deployed the first $5 million into BlackRock’s IBIT ETF as an interim measure.
He also confirmed that the legislature approved a $10 million allocation. The rest of the funds, he added, will be deployed once the state finalizes its direct-ownership strategy.
Commenting on the development, Pierre Rochard, CEO of The Bitcoin Bond Company, observed that government attitudes toward Bitcoin have shifted in recent years.
He emphasized that whereas earlier discussions centered on potential restrictions, government participation in Bitcoin markets is now emerging as a realistic policy option. This shift, Rochard added, highlights the broader normalization of Bitcoin as an institutional asset.
Connection to Texas Bitcoin Reserve
The investment follows Texas’s approval of a formal Bitcoin reserve earlier in the year. Specifically, in June, Governor Gregg Abbott authorized the creation of a state-managed digital asset fund that would allow Bitcoin to be held as part of the state’s long-term portfolio.
The legislation restricts the reserve to assets with market capitalizations above $500 billion, a threshold Bitcoin meets, although the IBIT ETF itself does not.
Texas has not confirmed whether the IBIT purchase is part of that reserve plan. Nonetheless, the investment represents continued momentum behind the state’s broader digital asset agenda.
Ethereum May Be Added if Market Conditions Hold
Lawmakers have also signaled openness to expanding the reserve beyond Bitcoin. In October, Senator Charles Schwertner, an architect of the reserve legislation, stated that Ethereum could be considered for inclusion.
He noted that Ethereum would need to sustain a market capitalization above $500 billion for a continuous 24-month period before qualifying.
Texas Follows Wisconsin in Building Exposure to IBIT
Although Texas has gained attention for its Bitcoin initiative, it is not the first state to invest in IBIT. A regulatory filing reveals that Wisconsin acquired nearly $100 million in IBIT shares in May 2024.
Texas now joins a diverse group of institutional buyers that includes Harvard and Abu Dhabi, according to Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balachunas. Balachunas noted that this level of institutional breadth is uncommon for a fund launched less than two years ago.
State of Texas joining Harvard and Abu Dhabi in recent $IBIT purchase. Pretty sure that's the only ETF to ever be owned by all three. More wild stuff for a not-yet-even-two-years-old fund. https://t.co/uJHJKfKsO3
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) November 25, 2025
Despite rising institutional interest, IBIT has continued to face market headwinds. The ETF is down approximately 10% year-to-date, reflecting broader volatility in the digital asset sector. As of the latest update, IBIT traded at $49.33, down 0.46% overnight.