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Brazilian fintech Méliuz has made history by becoming Brazil’s first Bitcoin treasury company, holding 320.2 BTC valued at $33.3 million, showcasing robust Bitcoin adoption across Latin America.
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Bahrain’s Al Abraaj and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala fund are jumping on the bandwagon, investing in Bitcoin reserves and ETFs to bolster shareholder returns.
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Firms from Asia and the US, including Remixpoint and DDC Enterprise, are significantly expanding their Bitcoin holdings, as major players introduce investment vehicles populated with millions in BTC.
Traditional finance embraces Bitcoin with significant investments from fintech firms across Latin America and the Middle East, signaling the mainstreaming of cryptocurrency.
TradFi Money Flows Into Crypto Market With Bitcoin Buys
On May 15, Brazilian-listed fintech company Méliuz became the first in the country to incorporate BTC into its treasury. This strategic move demonstrates a growing trend among companies to embrace Bitcoin as a viable reserve asset.
“Historic day! Our shareholders have approved, by a wide majority, the transformation of Méliuz into the first Bitcoin Treasury Company listed in Brazil,” tweeted Méliuz’s chairman, Israel Salmen.
The firm acquired 274.52 BTC for $28.4 million, achieving an impressive BTC yield of 600%. Their average purchase price settled at $103,604. Earlier in March, Méliuz invested $4.1 million to buy 45.72 Bitcoin at an average of $90,296 per coin. Overall, the company holds 320.2 BTC currently valued at $33.3 million based on market rates.
Following this, Al Abraaj Restaurants Group in Bahrain emerged as the first firm in the region to deploy a Bitcoin reserve strategy with its acquisition of 5 BTC.
In an official statement, the firm announced a strategic partnership with US-based investment manager 10X Capital, aiming to replicate MicroStrategy’s model in the Middle East. Al Abraaj also plans to raise additional funds to expedite its Bitcoin purchases, enhancing the new KPI of Bitcoin per share.
“Our initiative towards becoming a Bitcoin Treasury Company reflects our forward-thinking approach and dedication to maximizing shareholder value. We believe that Bitcoin will play a pivotal role in the future of finance, and we are excited to be at the forefront of this transformation in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” said Abdulla Isa, Chairman of Al Abraaj’s Bitcoin Treasury Committee.
Additionally, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala, has ramped up its investment in the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) during Q1 2025. According to a 13F filing with the SEC, the firm’s holdings increased from 8.2 million to 8.7 million shares of BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF.
On another front, the London-based venture capital firm Coinsilium Group Limited raised $1.6 million (£1.25 million) to further its Bitcoin treasury initiative, Forza (Gibraltar) Limited.
In their announcement, Coinsilium disclosed that the fundraising through a broker-led placement of 41,666,657 new ordinary shares at a price of 3 pence per share was oversubscribed.
In Asia, Remixpoint, specializing in energy management systems, allocated $3.4 million to augment its BTC holdings, acquiring 32.83 BTC on May 13. This move brought Remixpoint’s total holdings to 648.82 BTC, underscoring a steadfast commitment to Bitcoin as a secure store of value.
Furthermore, COINOTAG reported a Chinese firm is in talks to acquire up to 8,000 Bitcoins from significant holders, though a binding agreement has yet to be established.
US Firms Accelerate Bitcoin Adoption
US firms are actively participating in the Bitcoin adoption movement. DDC Enterprise, a cross-border e-commerce company, has announced a Bitcoin reserve strategy with an ambitious goal of acquiring 5,000 BTC over the next 36 months.
Founder and CEO Norma Chu emphasized the importance of this initiative for the company’s long-term value creation strategy.
“Bitcoin’s unique properties as a store of value and hedge against macroeconomic uncertainty align perfectly with our vision to diversify reserves and enhance shareholder returns,” remarked Chu.
In a significant collaboration, Cantor Fitzgerald, SoftBank, Tether, and Bitfinex recently launched a Bitcoin investment vehicle named 21 Capital. On May 13, this new entity executed its first purchase, acquiring 4,812 Bitcoins for $458.7 million.
Beyond Bitcoin, there’s also notable interest in other cryptocurrencies. For instance, blockchain tech firm BTCS has declared plans to invest $57.8 million in Ethereum (ETH), indicating a strategic preference for the second-largest cryptocurrency.
These developments signal a maturing market where blockchain firms are drawing considerable capital to integrate traditional finance with the evolving world of cryptocurrency.
Conclusion
The accelerating trend of traditional financial institutions investing in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies marks a pivotal transformation in financial markets. Businesses across regions are recognizing Bitcoin’s potential as a valuable reserve asset, aligning with their strategies to enhance shareholder returns. As this dynamic continues, the intersection of TradFi and crypto realms promises to reshape the financial landscape in unexpected ways.
