From Holding to Controlling Stake: When Bitcoin Starts "Buying Public Companies"

BTC1,38%

Author: Conflux

Bitcoin’s first entry into the capital structure of a publicly listed company as an “investment asset.”

On February 4th, Nasdaq-listed insurance brokerage Tianrui Xiang Holdings announced that an undisclosed investor will invest 15,000 Bitcoins in exchange for equity in the company. Based on the Bitcoin price of approximately $75,000 at the time, this investment’s nominal value is about $1.1 billion.

The announcement did not disclose specific details, but it has already achieved a historic breakthrough: Bitcoin, for the first time as an “investment asset,” has entered the equity structure of a Nasdaq-listed company.

This is not buying an ETF, not holding BTC, nor issuing bonds to buy coins. It is directly exchanging Bitcoin for company equity.

The Era of Bitcoin Treasury

Over the past two years, a profound change has been happening: Bitcoin is beginning to systematically enter the balance sheets of publicly listed companies.

Take Strategy as an example; it has completely changed the traditional operating logic of listed companies. It no longer makes money by selling software but has become a financial machine: continuously issuing stocks, convertible bonds, etc., converting financing into Bitcoin.

Legally, it is a Nasdaq-listed company;

Financially, it is more like a “Bitcoin asset amplifier”;

In the capital market, it has become a Bitcoin channel that is tradable directly without ETFs.

Japan’s Metaplanet, the US’s Twenty One Capital, and Bitcoin Standard Treasury are all following the same path as Strategy.

These companies have formed a new species — Bitcoin Treasury Companies.

The Listed Company Bitcoin Camp

As of now, the largest holders of Bitcoin among publicly listed companies worldwide have formed a massive camp:

  • Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy): over 710,000 Bitcoins
  • Major mining companies like MARA, Riot, Hut 8
  • Trading platforms like Coinbase, Bullish
  • Bitcoin treasury companies like Twenty One Capital, Metaplanet, Bitcoin Standard Treasury
  • Even tech and payment companies like Tesla and Block

These companies share a common point: they have turned Bitcoin from an investment asset into a part of the company’s capital structure.

And that 15,000 Bitcoin transaction by Tianrui Xiang is a further leap in this development direction.

Reverse Mergers of Crypto Assets

If the deal is completed, Tianrui Xiang will hold 15,000 Bitcoins, surpassing US-based crypto exchange Coinbase, and become the eighth-largest Bitcoin treasury company in the world.

But its difference from Strategy, mining companies, and exchanges is: it is not “buying Bitcoin with fiat currency,” but more like using Bitcoin to “buy the shell of a Nasdaq-listed company.”

Under such a structure, this transaction no longer looks like an investment but more like a reverse merger of crypto assets into the traditional capital market.

Bitcoin is no longer just “held” by companies but is beginning to be used to restructure ownership itself.

From Strategy’s over 700,000 Bitcoins, to mining companies, exchanges, treasury companies, and now directly exchanging Bitcoin for company equity, a clear path has emerged: Bitcoin is reconstructing the “listed company network.”

When this system becomes large enough, Bitcoin will no longer be just a “cryptocurrency” but will evolve into a financial infrastructure embedded within the global system.

When enough listed companies take Bitcoin as the foundational layer of capital and ownership, Bitcoin will no longer be just a “cryptocurrency” but will become a financial infrastructure embedded within the global capital system.

The content of this article is for reference only and does not constitute investment advice. The market carries risks; invest cautiously.

Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to Disclaimer.

Related Articles

Bitcoin Developers Propose Freezing Coins That Skip Quantum-Safe Migration Under BIP-361

A draft proposal circulating among Bitcoin developers would give holders roughly five years to move their coins to quantum-resistant addresses or watch them become permanently unspendable on the network. Key Takeaways: BIP-361, co-authored by Casa CTO Jameson Lopp, proposes freezing Bitcoin in le

Coinpedia2m ago

BTC slides 0.70% in the short term: On-chain fund outflows and derivatives deleveraging align to weigh on the market

Between 09:30 and 09:45 (UTC) on 2026-04-17, the BTC price’s return within 15 minutes was -0.70%. During the day, it fluctuated in the 75511.9 to 76307.6 USDT range, with an amplitude of 1.04%. Short-term market sentiment became more cautious; although capital activity increased, volatility noticeably accelerated. The main driving force behind this move is the large-scale outflow of funds on-chain and active deleveraging in the derivatives market. On-chain data shows that, within this time window, the net outflow from BTC exchanges increased, with a 24-hour net outflow of -2,844.68 BTC. Investors transferred a large amount of BTC to cold wallets, significantly weakening market liquidity and pressuring buy-side demand, which dragged prices lower. In the derivatives space, open interest in perpetual contracts fell in tandem; some leveraged funds actively reduced exposure, indicating the market’s more conservative stance on short-term price action, thereby further weakening support. In addition, multiple large transfers and whale address activity occurred frequently during the anomaly period, amplifying pressure on capital flows and causing sentiment in the derivatives market to turn even colder. The funding rate dropped briefly within the window, indirectly reflecting that some position holders moved into cold wallets for safer risk management. At the same time, the number of active addresses remained persistently high at over 120k, suggesting network participation was not hit and the fundamentals remained stable; however, the combined effect of frequent outflows amplified market volatility in the short term. What needs to be watched is that continuous net outflows of funds on-chain and a decline in holdings pose a threat to the stability of support levels. Large address behavior could lead to further capital escaping. In the short term, focus on changes in exchange BTC balances, on-chain transfer volumes, whale address flow, and the dynamics of derivatives open interest. If capital does not return later, volatility risk may further expand; it is recommended to closely monitor real-time market conditions and key on-chain indicators.

GateNews22m ago

The U.S. vetoes the Iran-war powers resolution, while the BTC price trades in a range near $75,000

On April 17, Bitcoin traded in a tight range near $75,500. The U.S. vetoed a war-powers resolution against Iran, while Israel and Lebanon reached a 10-day ceasefire—geopolitical signals moved in opposite directions. Institutional fund inflows coexisted with outflows on-chain; Bitcoin’s correlation with the Nasdaq briefly turned negative—leaving the market waiting for a breakout in either direction.

GateInstantTrends30m ago

BTC breaks through 76000 USDT

Gate News bot message, Gate market data shows that BTC has broken through 76000 USDT, with the current price at 76188.7 USDT.

CryptoRadar41m ago

CleanSpark (CLSK) Highest Shorted BTC Mining Stock at 34.89%

CleanSpark (Nasdaq: CLSK) has the largest share of short open interest among Bitcoin mining and treasury companies, with short positions representing 34.89% of the free float and 4.71 days to cover, according to the source analysis. The stock traded at $11.42, up from $8.18 at the end of March,

CryptoFrontier58m ago

BTC up 0.58% in 15 minutes: exchange net outflows and ETF buy orders converge to lift the price

Between 2026-04-17 08:45 and 2026-04-17 09:00 (UTC), the BTC price surged in the short term. The candlestick return was +0.58%, with a price range of 75265.0 - 75862.3 USDT and a range of 0.79%. Market volatility increased and attention rose, with trading volume significantly higher than usual, reflecting a convergence between capital flow and technical signals. The main driver behind this unusual move is the exchange’s net outflow of BTC in sync with ETF capital inflows. Data shows that within the past 24 hours, exchanges recorded a net outflow of 2,844.68 BTC

GateNews1h ago
Comment
0/400
No comments