As of late May 2024, Bitcoin has reached a new milestone in institutional adoption. The number of large holders in the Bitcoin CME futures market hit a record high of 217 entities, up 36% from the beginning of the year. This increase reflects a significant shift: institutional investors are beginning to move from short-term trading activity to long-term strategic ownership.
A number of prominent companies are also reinforcing this trend. Strategy Inc. (formerly MicroStrategy) added 705 BTC to its portfolio. Meanwhile, GameStop surprised the market with the accumulation of 4,710 BTC, and Trump Media successfully raised $2.32 billion through private placement for future Bitcoin purchases. These moves demonstrate a growing corporate confidence in Bitcoin as a hedge against economic and geopolitical risks.
Amid rising global trade tensions and uncertainty in US economic policy, Bitcoin is beginning to transform from a high-risk speculative asset into a core allocation in institutional portfolios. The increase in long-term holdings and the influx of funds into Bitcoin ETFs affirm Bitcoin's increasingly relevant geopolitical role and its more established position in the mainstream financial system.