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Why Fortune 500 Companies Are Stockpiling Bitcoin to Their Balance Sheets?

Jul 16, 2025

Finance

Something big is happening in corporate America. Bitcoin, once seen as just a risky investment for tech enthusiasts, is now making its way into the treasuries of major companies. What started as a digital experiment has become a serious business strategy that's hard to ignore.

The numbers speak for themselves: 116 public companies now hold Bitcoin, with their combined holdings worth $85 billion. That's more than double what it was just a year ago. But what's driving this sudden corporate interest in Bitcoin?

💡 Crypto Curio: While public companies are increasingly adopting Bitcoin, it's estimated that roughly 19% of all Bitcoins are still held in "lost" wallets, meaning the original owners have misplaced their private keys or forgotten about them. That's a potential multi-billion dollar treasure trove locked away!

1. The Government Is Finally Bitcoin-Friendly

For years, big companies stayed away from Bitcoin because they weren't sure how the government would react. The previous SEC leadership, under Gary Gensler, was pretty skeptical about cryptocurrency. They created rules that made it expensive and complicated for companies to hold Bitcoin.

But things have changed dramatically. The new administration threw out those restrictive rules right away, sending a clear message that Washington's attitude toward Bitcoin has shifted. This policy change was welcome news for both banks and crypto companies.

The support goes all the way to the top. At the Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas, Vice President JD Vance called the White House a "firm ally" of the cryptocurrency industry. He said Bitcoin has become a "mainstream" part of the U.S. economy. When the government gives this kind of support, it makes corporate executives much more comfortable about adding Bitcoin to their companies.

2. FASB's New Accounting Rules Make Bitcoin Look Better on Paper

Here's where things get technical, but it's important. The way companies had to report their Bitcoin holdings on their financial statements was pretty unfair. Under the old rules, if Bitcoin went down in value, companies had to show that loss immediately. But if Bitcoin went back up, they couldn't show that gain. It was a heads-you-lose, tails-you-don't-win situation.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) fixed this problem. Now companies can show Bitcoin's real market value on their books, whether it goes up or down. This means that when Bitcoin recovers from a drop, companies can actually benefit from that recovery in their financial reports.

This change might sound small, but it's huge for CFOs and finance teams. They no longer have to worry about Bitcoin only showing up as losses on their books. Now they can accurately show both the risks and the potential rewards.

3. MicroStrategy Showed Everyone How It's Done

When MicroStrategy (now called Strategy) started buying Bitcoin in 2020, many people thought they were crazy. The business software company was essentially betting its future on Bitcoin. Today, that bet looks brilliant.

Strategy now owns 582,000 Bitcoins—that's 1% of all Bitcoins that will ever exist. They just bought another $110 million worth. The result? Their stock price shot up 500% in 2024, crushing the performance of most other stocks.

This success story caught everyone's attention. Strategy basically became a Bitcoin investment company disguised as a tech company, and investors loved it. The company proved that Bitcoin could be more than just a store of value—it could drive real business growth and make shareholders rich.

Other companies are now studying the Strategy's playbook. If a business software company can use Bitcoin to multiply its stock price, why can't other companies do the same?

4. Big Names Are Making Big Moves

The corporate Bitcoin movement got a huge boost from some high-profile announcements that got everyone talking. GameStop, the video game retailer famous for its stock price drama, bought about $500 million worth of Bitcoin in May 2025. This showed that even companies outside of finance are taking Bitcoin seriously.

Around the same time, Trump Media (which runs Truth Social) announced plans to raise $2.5 billion specifically to build a Bitcoin treasury. These announcements came as Bitcoin's price climbed from around $75,000 in April to about $112,000 recently.

When big companies make moves like this, it creates a domino effect. Other companies don't want to be left behind while their competitors potentially benefit from Bitcoin's price increases. It's classic corporate FOMO—fear of missing out.

This is especially true for companies looking to diversify beyond traditional investments like cash and bonds, particularly when inflation is a concern and people worry about the value of regular currency.

The Full Picture: Not Everyone's Jumping In

While Bitcoin excitement is spreading through many boardrooms, it's important to note that not every major company is rushing to buy Bitcoin. Tesla bought Bitcoin in 2021 but has since sold most of it. Meta shareholders voted down a proposal to build a Bitcoin reserve. Similar ideas failed at Amazon and Microsoft.

These mixed reactions show that the corporate world is still divided on Bitcoin. Some executives think Bitcoin is too volatile for corporate treasuries, while others believe its long-term growth potential and protection against inflation make it essential.

What's clear is that the corporate Bitcoin landscape is changing fast. Clearer government rules, better accounting treatment, proven success stories, and recent big announcements have created perfect conditions for more companies to consider Bitcoin.

For a growing number of companies, Bitcoin isn't just a speculative bet anymore—it's becoming a strategic tool that can increase shareholder value, protect against inflation, and set companies apart from competitors. As the regulatory environment becomes more stable and more success stories emerge, expect to see even more Fortune 500 companies seriously considering Bitcoin.

The question isn't whether Bitcoin belongs in corporate treasuries anymore. It's which companies will be bold enough to embrace this new approach to managing their money. The early adopters are already seeing the benefits, and that's getting everyone else's attention.