Key Points
- Software company MicroStrategy continues to implement its Bitcoin strategy, purchasing an additional 850 BTC in January 2023.
- MicroStrategy’s total BTC holdings now amount to 190,000 BTC.
- The company’s fourth quarter 2023 financial results revealed a significant increase in Bitcoin holdings.
- MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin strategy has resulted in an unrealized profit of $2.2 billion for its BTC holdings.
- Despite the success of the strategy, there are concerns about the impact of the launch of Spot Bitcoin ETFs on the company’s future success.
MicroStrategy, a software company, continues to execute its Bitcoin strategy. The company’s co-founder, Michael Saylor, announced that the firm had increased its BTC holdings with another purchase of the flagship cryptocurrency.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Saylor revealed that the company had bought an additional 850 BTC for $37.2 million in January. This acquisition brings the company’s total BTC holdings to 190,000 BTC.
MicroStrategy recently published its fourth quarter 2023 financial results. The results offered more insights into the company’s Bitcoin portfolio.
According to the report, the software company bought 31,755 BTC after the third quarter of 2023 ended. The company spent $1.25 billion on this acquisition, averaging $39,411 per BTC.
These purchases marked the largest quarterly increase in Bitcoin holdings in the past three years. It also marked the 13th consecutive quarter where the company added more BTC to its balance sheet.
MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin bet is still profitable. The company’s financial report showed that it had acquired its 190,000 BTC at an average price of $31,224 per BTC, totaling $5.93 billion.
Given that Bitcoin is currently trading at around $43,000, the company has an unrealized profit of $2.2 billion from its BTC holdings.
‘Bitcoin Strategy’ Still Beneficial
Andrew Kang, MicroStrategy’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), stated that the company benefitted from the significant rise in Bitcoin’s price in the fourth quarter of 2023. This period coincided with a surge in BTC’s price due to rumors about the potential approval of the Spot Bitcoin ETFs.
Kang also disclosed that the company saw this as an opportunity to accumulate more BTC and add incremental value for their shareholders. These shareholders reportedly benefitted from the company’s “unique Bitcoin strategy” as the company’s stocks rose by over 300% last year, largely due to its BTC exposure.
However, it’s worth noting that there have been concerns about the sustainability of MicroStrategy’s BTC strategy, especially with the introduction of Spot Bitcoin ETFs. Some investors had previously invested in MicroStrategy because of the BTC exposure, but now Spot Bitcoin ETFs seem to be a better alternative for such investors.
Data from MarketWatch indicates that the company’s stock has dropped by just over 21% since the start of the year. This price drop could be partly due to investors who have sold off their stocks and moved them to the Spot Bitcoin ETFs.