Executive Summary
The Story So Far
Why This Matters
Who Thinks What?
OranjeBTC, Brazil’s largest Bitcoin treasury, has paused its Bitcoin acquisitions just three weeks after its public debut on the Brazilian stock exchange B3. The company announced Thursday that it would instead prioritize buying back its own shares, a strategy often employed to boost stock value by reducing supply, as Bitcoin’s price has recently traded below its all-time high.
Capital Allocation Strategy
The company stated it would “continue to evaluate capital allocation opportunities in a disciplined manner, always prioritizing the maximization of Bitcoin per share (BTC/Share) for its shareholders.” This includes the direct purchase of Bitcoin or the repurchase of treasury shares when they are trading at a discount to market net asset value (mNAV).
This decision comes as OranjeBTC’s shares were trading below their net asset value, indicating a discount to equity value. Bitcoin’s price has experienced a rocky two weeks, currently trading around $109,834, approximately 13% below its all-time high of $126,080 set earlier this month.
OranjeBTC’s Holdings and Market Context
OranjeBTC, which began trading publicly on October 7, holds 3,708 BTC, valued at approximately $408.3 million. The company is a direct competitor to Méliuz, another Brazilian fintech firm that previously declared itself South America’s first Bitcoin treasury company.
Bitcoin treasuries provide investors with exposure to the digital asset without the complexities of direct ownership. This strategy was pioneered by American software firm Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) in 2020, which now holds 640,808 Bitcoins worth about $70.5 billion. Other companies, including Japanese hotel operator Metaplanet, BitMine Immersion, and SharpLink Gaming, have also adopted similar models, accumulating significant crypto holdings.
Brazil’s Growing Crypto Market
Brazil, as Latin America’s largest economy, leads the region in the digital asset market, boasting the highest number of crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The broader crypto market continues to see dynamic shifts, with prediction markets showing fluctuating sentiment regarding Bitcoin’s future price movements.
