MicroStrategy could soon surpass Grayscale as the largest institutional Bitcoin holder, with over 252,220 BTC and an additional $1 billion for future acquisitions. Grayscale’s holdings have been declining, partly due to competition from new spot ETFs and high fees.
MicroStrategy, the self-proclaimed Bitcoin development company, may soon hold more Bitcoin (BTC) than Grayscale, one of the largest institutional players in the cryptocurrency space. As of September 2024, MicroStrategy holds 252,220 BTC, approximately 1.2% of Bitcoin’s total supply, and has over $1 billion in reserve to potentially purchase more. This puts the company in a position to surpass Grayscale’s Bitcoin holdings, which have dwindled in recent months following the introduction of U.S. spot ETFs.
MicroStrategy’s Ambitious Bitcoin Strategy
Under the leadership of Michael Saylor, who transitioned from CEO to Executive Chairman, MicroStrategy first began purchasing Bitcoin in August 2020 using cash from its balance sheet. Since then, the company has become one of the most prominent institutional Bitcoin holders by using capital market funding to fuel its ongoing BTC purchases. MicroStrategy’s average Bitcoin purchase price is around $39,000, significantly lower than Bitcoin’s current price of approximately $64,000, giving the company a considerable unrealized profit on its holdings.
Saylor’s aggressive strategy has resulted in a Bitcoin stockpile worth over $16 billion, but MicroStrategy isn’t finished. The firm has raised over $1 billion in recent months, positioning it for further BTC acquisitions. If these funds are indeed used to purchase additional Bitcoin, MicroStrategy’s holdings would likely exceed those of Grayscale, a company that was once the leading institutional BTC holder but has seen its assets shrink in recent months.
Grayscale’s Declining Holdings
Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) was one of the first public vehicles allowing investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without directly purchasing the digital asset. At its peak, Grayscale held more than 620,000 BTC. However, the trust’s high fees and the introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. have led to an outflow of assets. Currently, Grayscale holds just over 254,000 BTC, split between its flagship GBTC and the newly launched Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC), which has a more competitive fee structure.
The Bitcoin Mini Trust offers a 0.15% fee compared to GBTC’s much higher 1.50%, a major factor in the drop in Grayscale’s overall holdings. While the Mini Trust has managed to gain traction, its assets stood at only 33,753 BTC as of last week, leaving Grayscale vulnerable to being surpassed by MicroStrategy.
MicroStrategy’s Potential Milestone
If MicroStrategy proceeds with its planned purchases, it could soon become the fifth-largest holder of Bitcoin globally, surpassing Grayscale. The only entities with larger BTC holdings would be BlackRock, Binance, Satoshi Nakamoto, and Coinbase, although these institutions hold Bitcoin on behalf of clients, not as part of their own balance sheets.
This potential milestone highlights MicroStrategy’s unwavering commitment to Bitcoin as a store of value and strategic asset. With over $1 billion in reserves, the company is poised to continue its accumulation, making it a dominant force in the Bitcoin ecosystem.
Disclosure: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Investing in cryptocurrencies involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research before making any investment decisions.