LATEST: Over 1,000 Bitcoin Held By 35 Companies Amid Rising Crypto Interest

Corporate adoption of Bitcoin is gaining serious momentum, with 35 publicly traded companies now holding more than 1,000 BTC each. This marks a major leap in institutional interest, following the US executive order to establish a federal Bitcoin reserve. Fidelity Digital Assets reports these holdings are now valued at over $116 billion, up from 24 companies just months ago.

Bitcoin’s rise among corporate treasuries reflects a shift in strategy, with more companies spreading out their purchases rather than depending on a few large buyers. Fidelity’s Chris Kuiper noted this broader distribution signals a major increase in institutional exposure to the asset. Bitcoin also recently surpassed Amazon’s market cap, becoming the fifth-largest global asset by total valuation.

Institutional demand has driven Bitcoin purchases up 35% quarter over quarter. Over 278 public entities now hold Bitcoin, up from 124 just weeks ago. The United States leads with 94 such companies, followed by Canada with 40, and the UK with 19. Open interest in Bitcoin futures also remains strong, nearing record highs.

aPriori Founder Flags Latency, Fair Sequencing As Key Bottlenecks Blocking DeFi From Matching TradFi Speeds

Ray S., founder of aPriori, says latency and lack of fair sequencing remain the most critical infrastructure bottlenecks preventing decentralized finance from matching the execution speeds of traditional finance.

In an interview with Benzinga, discussing high-frequency trading on Ethereum ETH/USD L2s and alternative L1s, Ray also stressed that decentralization — specifically censorship resistance — is an underrated but essential factor keeping large TradFi players from deploying capital on-chain.

“Without censorship resistance, TradFi firms face AML and compliance risks that prevent them from meaningfully participating on-chain,” said Ray.

He pointed to emerging chains like Monad as…

Read more on Benzinga

LATEST: Electric Vehicle Maker Volcon Acquires 3,183 Bitcoin For $375M Investment

Volcon Inc. (NASDAQ: VLCN) announced it now holds 3,183.37 Bitcoin, purchased for approximately $375 million, averaging $117,697 per BTC. The company is also selling short-term put contracts, potentially allowing it to acquire more Bitcoin at lower prices while collecting option premiums to offset costs. This move reflects Volcon’s strong belief in Bitcoin as a long-term store of value and supports its ongoing BTC accumulation strategy.

Co-CEO Ryan Lane said Bitcoin is a powerful treasury asset, and emphasized the company’s goal of offering investors efficient exposure to BTC. Volcon will continue leveraging its hedge fund experience to creatively reduce the effective cost of its BTC holdings, aiming to build value with minimal dilution to shareholders.

The board also approved an increase in Volcon’s stock repurchase program, now authorizing up to $100 million in buybacks over the next 24 months. The program gives the company flexibility to support share value and potentially increase BTC per share when trading below NAV, depending on market and economic conditions.

Source

LATEST: $2.5 Trillion Citi Bank Says Bitcoin Could Hit $199,000 By Year-End

Wall Street giant Citi has updated its year-end forecast for Bitcoin, setting a base-case target of $135,000. The bank also outlined a bullish scenario reaching $199,000, while a bearish case, driven by weak equities, could pull the price down to $64,000. Citi’s revised outlook reflects key factors, including user adoption, macroeconomic trends, and increasing demand from spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

According to the report, Citi analysts project a 20% rise in user activity, supporting a $75,000 valuation on its own. Macroeconomic pressures, such as soft equity and gold performance, are expected to subtract $3,200, while an estimated $15 billion in additional ETF inflows could add $63,000. These elements combine to form the new $135,000 base-case forecast.

Since the U.S. approved spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024, ETF flows have accounted for over 40% of recent price movements. Citi believes crypto’s deeper integration into traditional finance and accelerating ETF demand are pushing Bitcoin’s outlook higher, with upside risks outweighing downside pressure.

LATEST: The Smarter Web Company Buys 225 Bitcoin Worth $26 Million, Reaches 1,825 BTC

UK-based Smarter Web Company has expanded its bitcoin treasury by acquiring 225 BTC, worth approximately $26.4 million. This latest move increases its total bitcoin holdings to 1,825 BTC, now valued at over $200 million. The firm purchased the bitcoin at an average price of $118,076 per BTC, using £19.6 million of treasury funds.

The company now ranks 26th globally among public firms holding bitcoin, according to Bitcointreasuries.net. In addition to its crypto investments, Smarter Web also holds £1 million in net cash, ready to be deployed into more bitcoin. The firm recently reported a half-year loss of £719,566, compared to £372,640 during the same period last year.

CEO Andrew Webley emphasized confidence in bitcoin, calling it “the best asset the world has ever seen.” Since its IPO on the Aquis Stock Exchange in April, the firm has raised over £100 million in equity capital, with no debt. Smarter Web remains committed to using bitcoin for long-term strategic growth.

Source

LATEST: $5B Christie’s Now Sells Luxury Real Estate Using Bitcoin And Crypto

Christie’s International Real Estate has launched a new division focused on luxury property deals using digital currencies like bitcoin. Buyers and sellers can now complete transactions entirely in crypto, without involving traditional banks. The new unit, led by Aaron Kirman, CEO of Christie’s Southern California, follows several major crypto-backed sales, including a $65 million Beverly Hills property.

The division includes a team of lawyers, analysts, and crypto experts to ensure secure digital transactions. More than $1 billion worth of homes are now listed with sellers open to accepting bitcoin. Properties include the $118 million La Fin mansion in Bel Air, and the $18 million Invisible House in Joshua Tree. Discussions are underway with banks about bitcoin-backed financing options.

This move reflects rising acceptance of crypto in the real estate industry. Federal support is growing, as new laws like the Genius Act and Clarity Act aim to regulate and support digital assets. Kirman believes crypto is here to stay, and expects even greater adoption in the years ahead.

 Report 

LATEST: Crypto Inflows Hit $60 Billion Year To Date, Says JPMorgan Report

Capital pouring into digital assets has soared to $60 billion so far this year, with inflows jumping nearly 50 percent since May, according to JPMorgan analysts. The surge is fueled by rising crypto fund activity, CME futures trading, and a wave of venture capital fundraising. Analysts believe inflows will surpass last year’s record as momentum continues to build.

JPMorgan’s Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou credits the growing optimism to recent progress in U.S. crypto regulation. The GENIUS Act, now passed by Congress, offers long-awaited clarity for stablecoins and sets a potential global benchmark. Meanwhile, the CLARITY Act, moving through Congress, aims to formally classify digital assets — a step that could attract more crypto-native firms to the U.S. over regions like the EU, which has stricter rules.

Public and private markets are already responding. Crypto venture funding is picking up, Circle’s IPO was a success, and SEC filings are on the rise. Interest in altcoins is also heating up, especially Ethereum, which is gaining ground in DeFi and corporate treasuries.

LATEST: Public Company Semler Scientific Buys 175 More Bitcoin Worth $21 Million

Semler Scientific has acquired 175 Bitcoin for $20.8 million, using proceeds from its recent ATM offering. According to an SEC filing, the average purchase price was $119,230 per Bitcoin. This latest buy brings the company’s total holdings to 5,021 BTC, valued at approximately $595 million as of early Thursday morning.

Bitcoin traded slightly higher at $118,500 in pre-market hours, following a recent all-time high above $120,000. Semler’s stock rose 0.46% in pre-market trading, though retail sentiment on Stocktwits slipped into bearish territory. The company reported a 31.3% year-to-date return on its Bitcoin investment through July 23.

Semler began using Bitcoin as its primary treasury asset in May 2024 and plans to significantly expand its holdings. The company aims to reach 10,000 BTC by the end of the year, 42,000 by the end of 2026, and 105,000 by 2027. It will fund this strategy through a mix of equity, debt, and operational cash flow.

Source