BlackRock Increases Stake in Strategy to 5% and Reinforces Bet on Bitcoin

• BlackRock increases stake in Strategy to 5%.
• Company reinforces exposure to Bitcoin and the crypto market.
• Strategy includes new investments and expansion in Europe.

BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, has increased its stake in Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) to 5%, as revealed in a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 6, 2025. The move reflects the growing interest institutional in Bitcoin, consolidating the company's position as one of the main holders of Strategy shares.

At the time of publication, the price of Bitcoin was quoted at US$97.503,52, up 0.8% in the last 24 hours.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, BlackRock acquired approximately 1,78 million additional shares of Strategy, bringing its total stake to approximately 11,26 million shares. Based on the company’s current share price of approximately $325 per share, BlackRock’s total investment exceeds $3,67 billion. Strategy remains the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, with 471.107 BTC on its balance sheet, valued at approximately $48 billion. Despite reporting a net loss of $670,8 million in the most recent quarter, the company remains committed to its “21/21” plan, which aims to raise $42 billion over the next three years to acquire more Bitcoin. To date, it has raised $20 billion through senior convertible notes and debt.

In addition to increasing its stake in Strategy, BlackRock is continuing to expand its presence in the cryptocurrency market. The firm plans to launch a new Bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP) in Europe, following the success of its US Bitcoin ETF, which has amassed over $55,5 billion in assets under management. The new ETP will be domiciled in Switzerland and is expected to attract an additional $10 billion in inflow from institutional investors.

BlackRock’s decision to expand its stake in Strategy comes shortly after the Michael Saylor-led firm announced its rebranding to “Strategy” and adopted a Bitcoin-inspired visual identity. These moves reinforce its commitment to positioning itself as the leading corporate holder of the cryptocurrency while advancing the development of AI-enabled business intelligence solutions.

On the stock market, Strategy (STRK) shares debuted on the Nasdaq on Thursday, closing up 2% on volume of over 650.000 actions traded. In premarket trading, STRK continued its upward trajectory, posting an additional 5% increase. Meanwhile, MSTR shares were down about 3% at the close last Thursday but were up 1,5% in premarket trading.

BlackRock’s expanded stake in Strategy and its efforts to launch new Bitcoin investment products reflect the cryptocurrency’s growing institutional acceptance. As financial giants like BlackRock increase their exposure to Bitcoin, the crypto market is expected to continue to evolve, attracting more institutional and individual investors. This development reinforces the significant role that large institutions play in the legitimacy and adoption of cryptocurrencies, signaling a new era of integration between traditional financial markets and the crypto space.

BlackRock, with its vast influence and resources, is positioned to lead this transition, driving Bitcoin adoption and shaping the future of digital finance. With the growing participation of large institutional players, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are increasingly establishing themselves as essential components of the modern investment portfolio, offering opportunities and challenges for investors of all profiles.

The increasing integration of cryptocurrencies into the traditional financial system reflects a paradigm shift in the way value is perceived and transacted, signaling a future where digital assets will play an even more central role in the global economy. By increasing its exposure to Bitcoin, BlackRock is not only diversifying its portfolio, but also signaling to the market its confidence in the long-term potential of cryptocurrencies as a viable and profitable asset class.

This strategic move could serve as a catalyst for other financial institutions to consider similar investments, further accelerating Bitcoin’s adoption into mainstream finance. As the market evolves, it will be interesting to see how the interplay between traditional institutions and emerging technologies will shape the future of finance and what new opportunities will emerge for investors and businesses.