Traditional financial (TradFi) companies and institutions are accelerating mainstream cryptocurrency adoption through significant investments in Bitcoin (BTC).
Following Michael Saylor's precedent, companies from Brazil, the Middle East, and Asia are increasingly adopting Bitcoin as a reserve asset.
Traditional financial funds flowing into cryptocurrency market…Buying Bitcoin
On May 15th, Brazilian listed fintech company Meliuz became the first Brazilian company to include BTC as an asset.
"It's a historic day! Shareholders overwhelmingly approved transforming Meliuz into the first Bitcoin asset company listed in Brazil." – Israel Salmen, Meliuz chairman, posted on X.
The company also purchased 274.52 BTC for $28.4 million, achieving a 600% BTC return. The average purchase price was $103,604. On March 6th, Meliuz spent $4.1 million to buy 45.72 Bitcoin at $90,296 per coin. Currently, the company holds a total of 320.2 BTC, valued at $33.3 million at current market prices.
In the Middle East, Bahrain-listed Al Abraaj Restaurant Group followed suit, purchasing 5 BTC to become the first company in the region to adopt a Bitcoin reserve strategy.
In an official press release, the company announced a partnership with US-based investment manager 10X Capital to become the 'MicroStrategy of the Middle East'. They also plan to raise additional capital to expand initial Bitcoin purchases. The company aims to increase its new Bitcoin per share KPI.
"Our initiative to become a Bitcoin asset company reflects a forward-looking approach and commitment to maximizing shareholder value. We believe Bitcoin will play a crucial role in the future of finance, and we are pleased to be at the forefront of this transformation in the Kingdom of Bahrain." – Abdullah Essa, Chairman of Al Abraaj Bitcoin Asset Committee, announcement.
Reinforcing this trend, Mubadala, Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund, increased its investment in iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) in the first quarter of 2025. According to SEC-filed 13F documents, the company holds 8.7 million shares of BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF, up from 8.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Meanwhile, London-based venture capital company Coinsilium Group Limited raised $1.6 million (£1.25 million) to develop a Bitcoin asset subsidiary called Forza (Gibraltar) Limited.
"Coinsilium Group Limited (AQUIS:COIN, OTCQB:CINGF), a Web3 investor, advisor, and venture builder, is pleased to announce that it has raised a total of £1.25 million through a broker-led placement of 41,666,657 new ordinary shares ('Ordinary Shares') at a price of 3 pence per share. This placement was oversubscribed." – As stated in the press release.
In Asia, Japanese energy management system development company Remixpoint invested $3.4 million to increase its BTC holdings. The company disclosed purchasing 32.83 BTC on May 13th.
This latest move brings the total holdings to 648.82 BTC. These gradual purchases reflect a consistent recognition of Bitcoin as a store of value.
BeInCrypto also reported that a Chinese company is discussing purchasing up to 8,000 Bitcoin from 'significant and influential' holders. However, no binding contract has been signed yet.
US Companies Accelerate Bitcoin Adoption
Notably, US companies are not lagging behind in the Bitcoin adoption trend. Cross-border e-commerce company DDC Enterprises announced a Bitcoin reserve strategy targeting 5,000 BTC within 36 months.
Founder and CEO Norma Chu emphasized that this initiative is core to the company's strategy for creating long-term value.
"Bitcoin's unique attributes perfectly fulfill our vision as a store of value and hedge against macroeconomic uncertainty. This aligns perfectly with our vision to diversify reserves and enhance shareholder returns." – Chu, statement.
Earlier in late April, Cantor Fitzgerald, SoftBank, Tether, and Bitfinex collaborated to launch a Bitcoin investment vehicle called 21 Capital. On May 13th, the newly established company made its first purchase, buying 4,812 Bitcoin for $458.7 million.
Beyond Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies are also attracting traditional finance's interest. For example, blockchain technology company BTCS plans to allocate $57.8 million to Ethereum (ETH), choosing the second-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin.
These developments indicate a mature market where blockchain companies are raising substantial capital to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
