Michael Saylor, co-founder of MicroStrategy, has sparked interest in a potential new Bitcoin purchase following the company’s milestone inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 Index. This move has positioned MicroStrategy as a prominent player in both the tech and financial sectors. Saylor also hinted that Marathon Digital Holdings could be the next crypto-focused company to join the prestigious index.
On December 15, Saylor cryptically referred to the SaylorTracker, a tool that highlights MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin acquisitions. He questioned whether it was missing a green marker, traditionally used to signify a new Bitcoin purchase. This raised speculation in the crypto community about whether a fresh acquisition is imminent. Over the last month, Saylor has subtly suggested Bitcoin purchases on social media, often followed by official announcements of large acquisitions.
MicroStrategy recently grew its Bitcoin holdings to over 171,000 BTC, investing more than $15 billion. If a new purchase is confirmed, it would be the company’s first since joining the Nasdaq-100 Index on December 13. Analysts believe this inclusion could pave the way for MicroStrategy’s eventual entry into the S&P 500, which tracks the top 500 U.S. companies. According to CoinDesk’s James Van Straten, the final requirement for S&P 500 eligibility is achieving positive earnings over the past four quarters.
Van Straten predicted that with new Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) regulations in early 2025, and if Bitcoin reaches $120,000, MicroStrategy could report $25 billion in net income, potentially qualifying for the S&P 500 as soon as Q2 2025.
Meanwhile, Marathon Digital Holdings is working toward joining the Nasdaq-100 Index. Saylor suggested Marathon is the most likely candidate after congratulating Marathon CEO Fred Thiel on his company’s progress. However, Marathon has challenges to overcome, with its market capitalization still far below the $10 billion threshold that MicroStrategy met before its inclusion.
Despite this, Marathon has aggressively increased its Bitcoin reserves, spending over $1 billion in December to grow its holdings to 40,435 BTC, valued at nearly $3.9 billion. This makes Marathon the second-largest corporate Bitcoin holder, following MicroStrategy. As Marathon continues expanding its portfolio, it is cementing its position as a key player in institutional crypto investment.
These developments highlight the evolving landscape of corporate Bitcoin adoption, with MicroStrategy and Marathon Digital leading the way. Their efforts underscore the growing importance of digital assets in the institutional investment space, as companies leverage Bitcoin to strengthen their market influence and prepare for greater opportunities in the future.
