Key Takeaways
$500M BNB treasury: CEA Industries plans to raise up to $1.25 billion to buy BNB, with an initial target of $500 million.
BNB over BTC & ETH: Incoming CEO David Namdar says BNB has been “cut off” from Western investors and is undervalued.
Shares surged 336%: Nasdaq-listed CEA (VAPE) stock spiked after the announcement before retracing.
Long-term bet: Namdar sees BNB as the “chain of the future,” with potential in AI, robotics, and Web3 growth.
CEA Industries Bets Big on BNB
Publicly traded consumer products company CEA Industries is raising $500 million for a new crypto treasury — but unlike most corporate treasuries that prioritize Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH), CEA is going all-in on BNB, the token launched by crypto exchange Binance.
Incoming CEO David Namdar, a co-founder of Galaxy Digital, told Decrypt the choice is deliberate.
“BNB really hasn’t been something that people have realized or paid enough attention to,” Namdar said. “Most of the Western capital markets investors, especially, have been completely cut off — and I think that’s part of the opportunity here.”
On Monday, CEA revealed its plans to raise as much as $1.25 billion to purchase BNB — the same day the token hit an all-time high of $858. The announcement sent CEA’s Nasdaq-listed shares (VAPE) soaring more than 700% intraday, before settling to a 338% gain over the past five trading days.
Why BNB?
Namdar argues BNB has evolved beyond its roots as Binance’s exchange token:
“I see it as the chain of the future,” he said. “It might be the chain for AI and robotics opportunities — there’s a lot of different things that BNB can bring to the table.”
Analysts at Standard Chartered seem to agree. In May, the bank forecast that BNB could rise 300% by 2028, reaching $2,775 — aligning with Namdar’s multi-year horizon.
Building a Western Narrative for BNB
Namdar says part of his role will be “storytelling” — helping investors understand BNB’s ecosystem and driving adoption in the West.
“It’s about helping people see the potential growth, and also helping effectuate that growth,” he said.
CEA’s strategy mirrors the playbook of Bitcoin treasury firms like Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), focusing on mNAV (market value divided by asset value) to build shareholder confidence while expanding the token’s profile, according to The Decrypt.
Stock Volatility and Long-Term Vision
Following Monday’s rally, CEA shares retraced 30% Tuesday to $40, but remain sharply higher on the week. Namdar believes long-term investors will benefit most:
“For those here for the medium or long-term, there’s excitement about the potential returns over time,” he said.
