MassMutual invests US$100m in Bitcoin

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance has purchased US$100 million (HK$780 million) in Bitcoin for its general investment fund, the latest mainstream firm to dabble in digit assets, Bloomberg reports.

The mutual insurer also acquired a US$5 million minority equity stake in NYDIG, a subsidiary of Stone Ridge that provides cryptocurrency services to institutions, according to a statement.

NYDIG, which already keeps more than US$2.3 billion in crypto assets for clients, will provide custody services for MassMutual’s Bitcoins.

MassMutual, which has been around since 1851, is the latest company to invest in the largest cryptocurrency. MicroStrategy Inc. has expanded its investments into the coin, and Square has poured money into the world’s most popular cryptocurrency as well amid talk of growing institutional adoption and demand.

The investment in Bitcoin will represent 0.04 percent of the general investment account of nearly US$235 billion as of September 30, MassMutual said.

“We see this initial investment as a first step, and like any investment, may explore future opportunities,” spokeswoman Chelsea Haraty said in an email.

Bitcoin has more than doubled in price this year, and hit an all-time high earlier this month. Advocates say that Bitcoin is a kind of digital gold, likely to retain its value during times of turmoil and as a hedge against inflation despite the historical volatility of the cryptocurrency.