USD2025 Bitcoin Institutional Plays: MicroStrategy, Metaplanet, MARA, and More
MicroStrategy Acquires 1,070 BTC for $101 Million, Total Holdings Reach 447,470 BTC
On January 6, 2025, MicroStrategy announced the acquisition of an additional 1,070 BTC for approximately $101 million, culminating in a total holding of 447,470 BTC, which is valued at over $44 billion. The purchase was executed at an average price of $94,004 per bitcoin, as reported in an 8-K filing with the SEC. This acquisition follows the sale of 319,586 MicroStrategy shares, generating the same amount of funds. The company is engaged in a $21 billion equity offering and a corresponding fixed-income securities raise, with approximately $6.77 billion of shares still available for sale.
Michael Saylor, the company's co-founder, noted that MicroStrategy has now invested over $18 billion in Bitcoin acquisitions in the past nine weeks alone. Furthermore, analysts from Bernstein predict that corporate treasury adoption will continue to grow in 2025, with MicroStrategy expected to remain a leading factor. The firm recorded a Bitcoin Yield of 74.3% in 2024, highlighting effective accumulation while managing share dilution. MicroStrategy shares saw a significant increase, closing up 13.2% on the previous Friday and reflecting more than 431% growth over the past year.
Metaplanet Aims to Boost Bitcoin Holdings to 10,000 BTC
Metaplanet, a publicly listed Japanese company, is strategically aiming to raise its bitcoin (BTC) holdings to 10,000 coins. CEO Simon Gerovich emphasized the company's commitment to utilizing the "most accretive" capital market tools to achieve this goal while also enhancing transparency and shareholder engagement through new initiatives. As of early January 2025, Metaplanet holds 1,762 BTC, solidifying its position as Asia’s leading BTC treasury company. Throughout 2024, the Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed firm routinely expanded its BTC reserves using a mix of debt and cash.
Metaplanet's strategy mirrors that of MicroStrategy, which holds over 446,000 BTC, as the company increased its purchasing frequency during the latter half of 2024 amidst growing optimism in the crypto sector. Gerovich noted plans to leverage partnerships to promote bitcoin adoption in Japan and globally, aiming for innovative growth in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Since its initial BTC purchase in April 2024, Metaplanet's stock surged from about $1.90 (300 yen) to a closing price of $22.05 by year-end, marking a tenfold increase despite still being below a past peak of nearly $2,500 in February 2013.
MARA Holdings Loans 7,377 BTC to Third Parties Amid Yield Strategy
MARA Holdings, a publicly traded Bitcoin mining company, recently reported extending 7,377 BTC in loans to third parties as part of its innovative yield strategy. This loaning program, initiated throughout 2024, aims to generate a modest single-digit yield to offset operational expenses while temporarily allocating a portion of its Bitcoin reserves, which total 44,893 BTC following an increase related to mining operations. The company achieved a significant expansion of its total hashrate by 15%, reaching 53.2 exahash per second (EH/s) amid growing interest in its financing options.
Robert Samuels, the vice president of investor relations, noted that there is considerable interest in the lending program, which targets short-term arrangements with established third parties. However, this strategy has raised concerns following historical bankruptcies in the mining sector, prompting inquiries about risk management and the identities of these counterparties.
KULR Acquires $21 Million in Bitcoin to Strengthen Crypto Strategy and Treasury
KULR Technology Group initiated its bitcoin accumulation strategy in 2025 with the recent acquisition of $21 million worth of Bitcoin (BTC) at a weighted average price of $98,393.58 per BTC. This purchase adds to the company's holdings, bringing the total to 430.61 BTC, acquired for approximately $42 million, since adopting its bitcoin-first strategy announced on December 4, 2024. KULR aims to allocate up to 90% of its free cash reserves to Bitcoin, viewing it as a hedge against geopolitical and macroeconomic instability.
Michael Mo, the CEO, expressed confidence in Bitcoin's long-term potential for appreciation, acknowledging the influence of MicroStrategy's co-founder, Michael Saylor, on their strategy. Despite the strategic significance of this acquisition, the market's reaction has been lukewarm, with KULR's stock rising only 3% following the announcement, contrasting with a more substantial surge after their initial purchase on December 26. This acquisition reinforces KULR's commitment to expand its Bitcoin treasury and signifies only the beginning of its planned investments, as the company positions itself alongside other pioneers embracing similar strategies in the cryptocurrency space.
El Salvador Defies IMF Pressure, Expands Bitcoin Holdings to Over $572 Million
El Salvador has once again demonstrated its commitment to Bitcoin by purchasing 11 additional coins, valued at approximately $1 million, despite pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reduce its crypto exposure. This recent acquisition brings El Salvador's total Bitcoin reserves to nearly 6,022 tokens, worth about $572 million, indicating the nation’s dedication to exploring alternative financial models amidst economic challenges.
As part of its effort to stabilize its economy, El Salvador secured a $1.4 billion loan from the IMF with conditions that restrict Bitcoin use, mandating that acceptance be voluntary, proposing the closure of the state-backed Chivo Wallet, and eliminating the option for citizens to pay taxes in Bitcoin. The government's willingness to continue investing in Bitcoin reflects a bold economic experiment aimed at integrating cryptocurrency into its financial system and challenging traditional norms. By increasing its Bitcoin holdings, El Salvador is not only reinforcing its innovative approach but also igniting global interest in cryptocurrency adoption, despite facing significant hurdles.
Thumzup Media Invests $1 Million in Bitcoin, Plans to Allocate 90% of Liquid Assets to Crypto
Thumzup Media Corp., a U.S. publicly traded company, has made a significant move by acquiring 9.783 Bitcoin (BTC) for approximately $1 million, or an average price of $102,220 per BTC. This strategic investment, representing about 3% of the company's market capitalization of $33.6 million, reflects a bold shift in its treasury management approach. Thumzup's management is seeking approval from the board to allocate up to 90% of its liquid assets in Bitcoin, aligning with a growing trend of smaller firms adopting cryptocurrency as a treasury asset.
Additionally, the company plans to begin paying gig economy workers in Bitcoin in the forthcoming weeks, contingent on regulatory compliance. To support its Bitcoin holdings, Thumzup has partnered with Coinbase’s Prime platform as custodian, enhancing security and management of their digital assets. This investment represents a notable departure from the often more conservative stances taken by other corporate Bitcoin adopters and positions Thumzup to leverage the unique value proposition of integrating cryptocurrency payments within the marketing industry.
CleanSpark Surpasses 10,000 BTC, Becomes Fourth-Largest Corporate Holder of Bitcoin
CleanSpark, a prominent Bitcoin mining firm, has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 10,000 BTC in its corporate treasury, now totaling 10,097 BTC, as announced on January 9, 2025. This accomplishment marks a remarkable 236% year-over-year increase and positions CleanSpark as the fourth-largest corporate holder of Bitcoin globally, overtaking Hut 8 Mining, which holds 10,096 BTC. However, it still trails behind Marathon Digital and Riot Platforms, holding 44,893 BTC and 17,772 BTC, respectively. Every Bitcoin in CleanSpark's treasury has been mined exclusively within the United States, underscoring the company's commitment to sustainable growth and American energy utilization.
CEO Zach Bradford highlighted the importance of disciplined capital management and operational efficiency in achieving this goal, while CFO Gary Vecchiarelli mentioned the firm’s dedication to sound risk management through innovative financial strategies. The increasing trend in corporate Bitcoin holdings reflects a broader interest, with total corporate treasury holdings more than doubling from 262,632 BTC in Q4 2023 to 590,649 BTC by the end of 2024, signaling a growing acceptance of Bitcoin among businesses and a potential for further growth in 2025.
This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.
