Bitcoin News Today: Louisiana Pension Fund Grows Indirect BTC Exposure

In today's Bitcoin News, spot BTC ETFs in the US pulled in about $68.99 million on July 22. That marks seven straight days of net inflows.

This is the longest run of steady buying since mid-June. It points to growing interest from big investors.

Which BTC ETF got the most money on July 22?

As per SoSoValue data, BlackRock's IBIT led the pack again. It brought in $38.8 million in new money.

Fidelity's FBTC came in second with $21.5 million. Bitwise's BITB added $5.4 million.

Morgan Stanley's new MSBT fund, still fresh to the market, pulled in $3.8 million.

Grayscale's older GBTC fund lost $38.3 million. But its cheaper Mini Trust option gained almost the same amount, $37.9M.

This shows people are moving out of the pricier fund and into the low-fee version instead.

Why is a state pension fund buying Strategy stock?

The Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System, known as LASERS, has added to its stake in Strategy. This gives the pension fund indirect exposure to Bitcoin.

A filing covering holdings through June 30 shows LASERS held 21,300 Strategy shares. That is up from 20,600 shares at the end of March, a rise of 3.4%.

The position was worth about $1.85M at quarter-end. BitcoinTreasuries.NET later valued it near $2.13 million in a July 22 post.

BitcoinTreasuries.NET summed it up simply, saying government workers are gaining BTC exposure through the move.

It is worth noting LASERS does not hold Bitcoin directly. It owns shares of Strategy, a company whose balance sheet holds the largest corporate Bitcoin stockpile around.

LASERS manages 24 retirement plans covering more than 150,000 members. This Strategy stake is a small piece of a much bigger fund, reported at $16.3 billion in assets as of August 2025, and $17.2 billion at fiscal year-end June 30, 2025.

What is Strategy's current Bitcoin holding?

Strategy currently holds 843,775 BTC. That number has stayed the same through July 19.

During this time, the company raised another $263.5 million by selling more MSTR shares. Its cash reserve grew to $3.225 billion as a result.

Earlier this year, Strategy trimmed its Bitcoin stack under a new capital plan. That was a shift from its long history of steady buying.

MSTR stock does not move exactly like Bitcoin's price. Share issuance, debt costs, and how investors view the company's crypto holdings all play a role too.

Are other pension funds looking at crypto?

Yes, and Louisiana is not alone. Japan's National Business Corporate Pension Fund plans to put about 1% of its assets into crypto through a multi-asset fund in fiscal 2026.

In the US, Indiana passed a law letting certain public retirement plans offer at least one crypto-linked investment choice.

Florida lawmakers have floated a bigger idea. Their proposal would let some state-controlled funds, including pension money, put up to 10% into approved Bitcoin products.

Louisiana's approach through Strategy Shares is different from these direct-allocation plans, but it shows the same trend. Public money managers are testing ways to get near Bitcoin without buying it outright.

What this means going forward

Seven days of ETF inflows is a decent streak, though it does not guarantee prices will keep climbing. Markets can turn quickly, and past flows don't predict future ones.

The LASERS move is modest in size next to its full portfolio. Still, it adds to a wider pattern of pension funds inching toward crypto-linked assets through stocks, funds, and new state rules.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.