Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the largest pension fund in Japan and globally, is considering investments in alternative assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and gold. GPIF announced in a press release that it is looking into the possibility of including Bitcoin and other commodities, such as farmlands, forests, and gold, in its investment portfolio. The fund will start by researching these potential investment options.

This decision comes after the recent uptrend in the Bitcoin market and the success of the spot Bitcoin ETF market in the United States. The participation of traditional institutional investors in the Bitcoin market has generated increased global interest.

GPIF typically invests in a variety of assets, including domestic and international stocks, bonds, and financial instruments, to achieve optimal risk-adjusted returns while following its investment guidelines and risk management principles.

According to the latest data, GPIF saw a 20% increase in total assets under management (AUM) last year, reaching 224 trillion Yen as of December 2023 (approximately $1.489 trillion), making it the largest pension fund globally.

Japan has seen significant demand for crypto assets, with a Chainalysis report indicating that the country had the second-highest value in crypto transactions across Eastern Asia in 2023, surpassing $100 billion.

As interest in crypto assets grows, GPIF is gathering information on Bitcoin and other potential assets, as well as the processes involved in incorporating them into pension funds internationally.

In a similar move, the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund announced a $25 million investment in Bitcoin in collaboration with NYDIG. Pension funds in Virginia also disclosed plans to invest $50 million in various cryptocurrencies.

The emergence of spot Bitcoin ETF products has made it easier for traditional funds to invest in BTC. Recently, the Arizona State Senate approved a bill to explore Bitcoin ETFs in retirement portfolios.

For more news and updates on the cryptocurrency market, visit Global Crypto News.

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