25% of S&P 500 Firms Could Hold Bitcoin by 2030, Predicts Financial Advisor

A growing number of major corporations could soon be holding Bitcoin (BTC) on their balance sheets, with a leading financial advisor predicting that nearly a quarter of the S&P 500 will adopt the cryptocurrency as a long-term treasury asset by 2030.

Elliot Chun, a partner at the tech-focused advisory firm Architect Partners, made this bold forecast in a March 28 blog post, citing increasing pressure on treasury managers to explore Bitcoin or risk being seen as outdated.

“If you tried it and it worked, you’re a genius. If you tried it and it didn’t work, you at least tried. But if you didn’t try and have no good reason, your job may be at risk,” Chun explained, highlighting the growing sentiment among corporate finance leaders.

At present, only two S&P 500 companies—Tesla and Block—hold BTC on their balance sheets. To meet Chun’s projection, at least 123 additional S&P 500 firms would need to follow suit by 2030.

Meanwhile, MicroStrategy (MSTR), although not part of the S&P 500, continues to dominate as the largest corporate Bitcoin holder, with its aggressive BTC acquisition strategy driving its stock price up over 2,000% since its first BTC purchase in August 2020. This performance far outpaces both Bitcoin itself, which surged 781.1% during the same period, and the S&P 500, which gained 64.8%.

FOMO’ed Treasury Managers

The potential upside of holding BTC is adding pressure on treasury managers to at least consider the asset. Industry heavyweights like ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood and Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz have predicted that Bitcoin could soar to $500,000 or even $1 million by 2030, making the case for early adoption increasingly compelling.

Firms embracing BTC as part of their treasury strategy have also seen a boost in market value. GameStop recently hinted at joining the Bitcoin club, following its $1.3 billion convertible notes offering on March 26, with plans to use part of the funds to buy BTC.

Bitcoin as a Treasury Asset Remains Unproven

While the strategy is gaining popularity, Chun warned that firms aiming to replicate MicroStrategy’s success could be setting themselves up for disappointment. MSTR’s performance, he noted, was unique due to its early-mover advantage when U.S. asset managers lacked direct exposure to Bitcoin.

Still, Chun argued that BTC offers more flexibility as a treasury asset compared to gold. Being digitally transferable and liquid, BTC eliminates the logistical challenges of storing and moving physical assets.

The trend has also spurred new financial products, such as the Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF, launched earlier this month, which tracks companies with at least 1,000 BTC in their corporate treasuries.