More companies will be placing Bitcoin on their balance sheets. As many as a quarter of the companies listed on the S&P 500 will be holding BTC as a treasury reserve asset by the year 2030. Treasury managers fear falling behind. Their careers will be at stake if they don’t take Bitcoin seriously.
BTC as a treasury reserve asset is a new concept. Businesses use it for hedging against USD inflation. It is also suitable for diversification and for the purpose of reducing risks. Some people criticize that no businesses store gold as a treasury asset. Gold is hard to ship and also requires storing. Gold is also not reflected on balance sheets. Bitcoin is not the same. It is digital, liquid, and is regarded as a tangible asset for the purposes of GAAP.
This was led by MicroStrategy (MSTR) in 2020. MicroStrategy introduced institutional investors. It positioned BTC as a long-term growth asset.
Bitcoin’s corporate impact and market response
It also used Bitcoin for branding. The strategy was successful. From the period August 2020 to March 2025, BTC gained over 781%. MSTR stock gained over 2,000%, beating the S&P 500. GameStop (GME) has also hopped on the train. The company issued a $1.3 billion convertible note for the intention of utilizing BTC as a treasury reserve asset.
GME intends to be the leading Bitcoin treasury for gaming. The market did not appreciate it. GME stock fell by over 20% after the announcement. Now, 89 public firms carry Bitcoin on their balance sheets. GameStop brings the number up to 90. Few of these firms are big. However, the number is higher than some had predicted.
BTC Investor Week spent a whole day teaching firms this strategy. MicroStrategy did the same last year, hosting the event in Las Vegas.
Bitcoin’s expanding role in treasury
Companies must distinguish between true treasury diversification and complete business shifts. Some hope to replicate MicroStrategy’s success. They may face disappointment. MicroStrategy remains unique. It had first-mover advantage and strong branding as a Bitcoin innovator. The rise of Bitcoin ETFs also limits the appeal of this strategy. Public companies can now gain BTC exposure without holding it directly.
By 2030, Bitcoin will likely appear on the balance sheets of many top firms. Treasury managers cannot afford to ignore it. If they try and succeed, they gain recognition. And if they fail, they still show effort. If they refuse and miss an opportunity, their jobs could be at stake. Bitcoin’s role in corporate finance is growing. The next five years will reveal just how much.
