FameEX Hot Topics | Report: 25% of S&P 500 Companies Expected to Hold Bitcoin by 2030

By 2030, approximately 25% of companies in the S&P 500 are expected to hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets, according to Elliot Chun, a partner at Architect Partners. In a blog post published on March 28, Chun suggested this shift will largely stem from growing pressure on corporate treasury managers, who fear missing out on Bitcoin gains could cost them their jobs. “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.

Currently, only two S&P 500-listed companies — Tesla and Block — hold Bitcoin, while Strategy (MSTR) stands as the largest corporate Bitcoin holder among 89 publicly traded firms that have adopted the asset, according to BitcoinTreasuries.NET. For Chun’s prediction to come true, over 120 additional S&P 500 companies would need to allocate Bitcoin to their balance sheets in the next five years. Chun believes more firms will at least experiment with Bitcoin, driven by a mix of career risk and the asset’s long-term growth potential.

Several prominent voices in the crypto and finance industries — including ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood, Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz and Block CEO Jack Dorsey — have predicted Bitcoin could reach between $500,000 and $1 million by 2030. This optimism is also reflected in the performance of companies like Strategy, whose stock has soared over 2,000% since its initial Bitcoin investment in August 2020. In comparison, Bitcoin has risen 781%, while the S&P 500 has increased by just 64.8% during the same period.

However, Chun cautions that not every firm adopting Bitcoin will replicate Strategy’s success. There’s a distinction between using Bitcoin as a risk management or diversification tool and fully transforming a business around it. Chun describes Strategy as a “one-of-one,” noting that its early adoption helped U.S. asset managers gain exposure to Bitcoin when direct investments weren’t possible. That dynamic changed in January 2024 when the SEC approved several spot Bitcoin ETFs, enabling more direct access.

Even as adoption grows, Chun views the use of Bitcoin as a treasury asset as an “unproven strategy” for most companies. While many hope it will act as a hedge against inflation or diversify treasury risk, success remains uncertain. Nevertheless, Chun argues Bitcoin has advantages over traditional assets like gold, being easier to store and transfer. As a GAAP-recognized tangible asset, Bitcoin offers flexibility, liquidity, and fungibility — characteristics that may continue to appeal to forward-looking companies.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this section is for reference only and does not represent any investment advice or the official views of FameEX.