Two public pensions from Fairfax County, Virginia’s Police Officer’s Retirement System and Employees’ Retirement System, have invested in Morgan Creek’s new $40 million crypto fund.

Anthony Pompliano, a Morgan Creek general partner, said that it is the first case in which public pensions have invested in the cryptocurrency market.

Apart from the two pensions, the fund is said to be financed by a university endowment, a hospital, an insurance company, and a private foundation. It raised a total of $40 million.

Fairfax County Police Officer’s Retirement System chief investment officer Katherine Molnar said:

“Blockchain technology is being applied in unique and compelling ways across multiple industries. We feel it is important to be opportunistic and are excited to participate in this emerging opportunity, due to the attractive asymmetric return profile that it represents.”

CRUCIAL FIRST STEP TOWARDS INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF CRYPTO

The overwhelming majority of the crypto community has responded positively to the high-profile deal secured by Morgan Creek.

But some investors have questioned the $40 million figure and expected the fund to be larger given the involvement of public pensions.

However, the amount of capital involved in the monumental deal of Morgan Creek is of less importance.

The deal led to the entrance of the first group of public pensions into the cryptocurrency sector.

Public pensions are recognized for their conservative and cautious approach in investing. Due to the lack of properly regulated investment vehicles and trusted custodians in the cryptocurrency space, institutions have been reluctant towards investing in the asset class in the past several years.

The Morgan Creek deal has shown that institutional investors are opening up to the cryptocurrency sector and are beginning to become more comfortable with the asset class.