Executive Summary
The Story So Far
Why This Matters
Who Thinks What?
Newsmax, the conservative media company, has announced plans to build a digital asset treasury that will include both Bitcoin (BTC) and the official President Donald Trump meme coin (TRUMP) on the Solana blockchain. The company’s board of directors has approved the allocation of up to $5 million for the acquisition of these assets over the next 12 months, according to a statement released on Thursday.
Strategic Digital Asset Holdings
Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax, stated that the decision to include Bitcoin in the company’s reserves is based on its growing status as the “gold standard of cryptocurrency.” He also expressed enthusiasm for adding the TRUMP coin, anticipating its value to align with the success of a potential Trump presidency, which he described as “impressive” thus far.
The company did not disclose how it plans to fund these acquisitions but indicated that the initial strategic purchase is expected in the near future. Newsmax shares, traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker NMAX, experienced a roughly 4% drop to $10.83 on Thursday amidst broader market volatility, though they saw a rebound of over 4% in after-hours trading.
Market Performance and Context
Both Bitcoin and the TRUMP meme coin saw declines on Thursday, with BTC falling 3% to $107,709 and TRUMP dipping 2.1%. The TRUMP coin, specifically, has seen a significant drop from its January all-time high of $73.43, now trading around $5.90, and has fallen out of the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
Newsmax joins other media entities, such as Trump Media, in establishing digital asset reserves. Earlier this year, Trump Media acquired $2 billion worth of Bitcoin and related securities, positioning it among the top 10 largest publicly traded Bitcoin holders. If Newsmax were to fully utilize its $5 million allocation for Bitcoin, it would acquire approximately 46 BTC, placing it outside the top 100 Bitcoin holders.
Broader Implications
This move by Newsmax highlights a growing trend among companies to diversify their treasury holdings with digital assets. It also underscores the increasing integration of cryptocurrencies, including political meme coins, into mainstream financial strategies, reflecting a unique intersection of media, finance, and political commentary.