UK Pension Fund Faces Criticism Over Bitcoin Investment

According to Odaily, a UK pension fund has come under scrutiny for its decision to invest in Bitcoin. The fund allocated £1.5 million from its £50 million asset pool to Bitcoin, aiming to enhance employee returns. This move occurred before a significant surge in Bitcoin prices following Donald Trump's election victory. Several experts have criticized the pension fund's decision, warning that it risks "gambling with retirees' futures." Colin Low, Managing Director of Kingsfleet, described the move as "peculiar," arguing that pension funds should prioritize long-term investments over speculative bets. Low pointed out the irony of a fund with such a long investment horizon betting beneficiaries' assets on Bitcoin, which he believes lacks intrinsic value. Daniel Wiltshire, an actuary at Wiltshire Wealth, labeled the investment as "highly irresponsible." He emphasized that pension trustees must manage assets prudently and urged UK financial regulators to intervene to protect members. However, there are also voices in support of the fund's approach. Chris Barry, a director at Thomas Legal, stated that allocating less than 5% of funds to cryptocurrencies is "prudent" and encouraged UK pension funds to follow the example of their American counterparts, who have been investing in cryptocurrencies for years. Previously, it was reported that UK pension fund consultancy Cartwright is urging institutional investors to allocate assets to Bitcoin and has successfully guided the country's first pension fund to do so. Glenn Cameron, Cartwright's Head of Digital Assets, revealed that an unnamed fund allocated 3% of its £50 million ($65 million) to Bitcoin last month after extensive consultations with the plan's trustees, where ESG, investment cases, and security were thoroughly discussed.