Bitcoin Profits Fuel Scientific Innovation
Spain’s Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITER) is making headlines with a bold move—offloading 97 Bitcoin it purchased back in 2012 for just $10,000. With today’s prices, that crypto stash is now worth more than $10 million.
Instead of holding on, ITER plans to liquidate the digital assets and reinvest the massive returns into quantum technology research, marking one of the most unique cases of early Bitcoin investment funding cutting-edge science.
From Crypto to Quantum Leap
Back in 2012, Bitcoin was still considered niche and experimental. ITER’s decision to invest at the time was unconventional, but it’s now proving to be visionary. The institute’s early crypto gamble has turned into a windfall, allowing it to redirect funds toward quantum computing, encryption, and emerging tech fields.
Quantum technologies are poised to revolutionize multiple industries, including energy, computing, and cybersecurity. ITER sees this shift as part of its long-term vision to stay at the forefront of innovation—this time not just in renewables, but in deep-tech as well.
UPDATE: Spain’s ITER plans to offload 97 $BTC purchased in 2012 for $10K and reinvest the >$10M haul into quantum projects. pic.twitter.com/GVpv8OzqSO
— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) November 6, 2025
Bridging the Digital and Scientific Worlds
This move shows how early adoption of digital assets can directly benefit public research and innovation. While most institutional Bitcoin stories revolve around profit or treasury diversification, ITER is setting a new example—crypto as a catalyst for scientific progress.
As governments and institutes weigh the value of digital assets, ITER’s approach could inspire others to think beyond just financial returns and explore how crypto gains can fuel real-world impact.