Summary:
Public companies are outpacing Bitcoin spot ETF issuers in BTC accumulation during 2025, acquiring over 245,510 BTC in H1—a 375% increase from 2024. This shift signals growing corporate confidence in direct Bitcoin ownership rather than ETF exposure. Firms like Metaplanet and GameStop are diversifying holdings, reducing MicroStrategy’s dominance. With the next halving approaching, reduced supply and rising institutional demand could trigger significant price movements.
What This Means for You:
- Direct ownership gains traction: Corporations prefer holding BTC directly for treasury diversification, suggesting long-term bullish sentiment.
- Supply crunch alert: Accelerated corporate buying + halving-induced scarcity may intensify competition for BTC, potentially driving prices higher.
- ETF vs. self-custody tradeoff: While ETFs offer liquidity, companies prioritize control over assets, highlighting security and regulatory advantages of self-custody.
- Watch new entrants: Emerging players like Metaplanet could reshape market dynamics, offering clues about sector-specific adoption trends.
The Silent Bitcoin Accumulation: Companies’ Surprising 2025 Lead
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According to recent data, public companies have raced ahead of Bitcoin spot ETF issuers by snapping up more than twice as much BTC in the first half of 2025.
Public firms added 245,510 BTC to their balance sheets from January through June, a 375% jump over the 51,653 BTC they bought in the same stretch last year.
At the same time, spot ETF issuers purchased 118,424 BTC, leaving them well behind their corporate counterparts.
Public Firm Purchases Smash ETF Buys
According to data from Bitcoin Treasuries, the 245,510 BTC bought by public companies during H1 2025 is more than four times the 118,424 BTC ETF issuers gathered.
That ETF component is 56% lower than the 267,878 BTC they purchased in H1 2024, despite the funds experiencing more robust inflows than they experienced towards the end of 2024.
The difference indicates increasingly companies are holding Bitcoin directly instead of relying on exchange‑traded products.

More Companies Join Bitcoin Rush
Data shows 254 entities now hold Bitcoin, and 141 of those are public companies. That marks big growth from the start of the year, when only 67 firms had BTC, and the end of March, when the number hit 79.
Those counts translate to a 140% rise in six months and a nearly 80% gain in three months, underlining how many new players have jumped in.
Strategy’s Share Of Acquisition Dips
Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) still leads corporate buyers, but its slice of the total has shrunk. In H1 2024, Strategy’s purchase of 37,190 BTC made up 72% of all corporate buys.
In the first half of 2025, the Michael Saylor‑led company purchased 135,600 BTC but now accounts for 55% of the total—down from its previous dominance. Firms such as Metaplanet, GameStop and ProCap have stepped into the spotlight, each adding large sums to their Bitcoin holdings.
Supply Shock Could Be Coming
According to industry commentary, the increase in corporate purchasing in addition to continuing ETF demand could take a bite out of available supply.
When the next halving event reduces new Bitcoin issuance, less will flow into the market. Analysts caution that increasing institutional interest and declining supply might produce a significant price response.
As public firms climb aboard and ETFs keep on buying—though at a reduced rate—the battle for Bitcoin is escalating. Although Strategy’s investments have increased in absolute value, the arrival of new buyers indicates the market is expanding.
If that trend continues and reward for miners decreases following the halving, the battle for Bitcoin’s scarce supply could get fiercer.
Investors and analysts alike will be paying close attention to how these forces influence the price of Bitcoin in the second half of 2025.
Featured image from StormGain, chart from TradingView
Extra Information:
CoinDesk’s analysis of Bitcoin’s shrinking liquid supply complements this article’s corporate accumulation data.
Bitcoin Treasuries’ trend reports provide real-time tracking of institutional BTC holdings mentioned in the research.
People Also Ask About:
- Why are companies buying Bitcoin directly instead of using ETFs? Direct ownership eliminates management fees and offers greater control over assets.
- How does corporate BTC accumulation affect retail investors? Reduced supply availability may increase competition for coins, potentially raising entry costs.
- What’s driving MicroStrategy’s reduced market share? More firms are adopting BTC treasury strategies, diversifying the corporate holder base.
- Could corporate buying trigger a Bitcoin supply shock? Combined with halving mechanics, accelerated accumulation may strain available liquidity.
Expert Opinion:
“The 2025 corporate Bitcoin rush reflects a maturation phase where balance sheet allocation trumps speculative trading,” notes Alexander Leishman, Chief Economist at BTC Markets Group. “This structural demand—coupled with programmed scarcity—creates an unprecedented valuation framework that could decouple BTC from traditional risk assets.”
Key Terms:
- Corporate Bitcoin accumulation strategies
- Bitcoin treasury reserve assets
- Institutional BTC supply shock
- Public company cryptocurrency adoption
- Post-halving Bitcoin liquidity crunch
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