Revised Article:
Méliuz Becomes South America’s First Bitcoin Treasury Company
Shares of Brazilian Fintech Soar Post Announcement of Bitcoin Purchase Strategy Adoption
Publicly listed Brazilian fintech company Méliuz boldly claims the title of South America's first Bitcoin treasury company after investing over $28 million in the cryptocurrency. Known for offering customers cashback coupons and trading on the country's oldest stock exchange (B3: CASH3), Méliuz announced its Bitcoin purchasing plans in March, sending its stock skyrocketing.
On a recent Friday, Méliuz confirmed that it had bought 274.52 BTC for roughly $28.4 million, with an average price of $101,703 per virtual coin. Unsurprisingly, the company's shares gained an additional 26% in value shortly after the news broke.
Méliuz stated in a press release that the primary motivation behind the investment is to amplify the return on investment for their shareholders. According to the announcement, the company intends to maximize the Bitcoin holdings per share, rather than just allocating a portion of its cash to Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation.
Ray Nasser, the head of the Latin America arm for trading firm BlockFills, points to MicroStrategy as the inspiration for Méliuz's move, as the company aims to provide more value to its investors. It's worth noting that Méliuz went public in 2020 but faced difficulties, much like many other Brazilian companies, due to the country's high interest rates.
In 2024, Méliuz experienced a turnaround, akin to the strategy adopted by MicroStrategy, which is now focusing on Bitcoin accumulation to spur shareholder value. Nasser notes that Bitcoin serves as an excellent reserve asset but may not be directly linked to the company's core business.
"This is a shift away from its core business but its stock has seen the hype and benefits. It's working out for them," Nasser said.
Companies with Bitcoin treasuries purchase Bitcoin and offer investors the opportunity to gain exposure to the price of the cryptocurrency by buying the company's stock. In the United States, software firm MicroStrategy started acquiring Bitcoin in 2020, and its stock value has surged as a result. A growing number of Nasdaq-listed companies in the U.S. are beginning to emulate MicroStrategy by altering their business models to prioritize Bitcoin accumulation.
According to recent data, Brazil has the largest digital asset market in Latin America and the most extensive offering of crypto ETFs in the region. With its massive economy, Brazil might serve as a fertile ground for increased Bitcoin treasury activity.
Daily Debrief Newsletter
Enrichment Data:- MicroStrategy, now operating as "Strategy," is a prominent company globally, known for aggressively pursuing Bitcoin as a primary treasury asset through massive capital market activities. As of early 2025, Strategy boasts over 568,000 Bitcoins in its holdings([2][3][4]).- While several U.S. companies and institutions gain indirect exposure to Bitcoin through exchange-traded funds (ETFs), these entities seldom match MicroStrategy's scale in Bitcoin amassing as a treasury asset.- Public companies in Brazil have yet to mirror MicroStrategy's large-scale Bitcoin acquisition strategy.- Notable U.S. and international firms including Tesla and Block, Inc. (formerly Square) have experimented with Bitcoin, but their strategies pale in comparison to MicroStrategy's consistent and systematic approach to Bitcoin accumulation([3][4]).
- Meliuz's investment of over $28 million in Bitcoin markers it as South America's first Bitcoin treasury company, a move inspired by MicroStrategy's approach.
- In addition to its cashback coupons and stock trading services, Meliuz has expanded into cryptocurrency investing, specifically focusing on Bitcoin.
- Bitcoin serves as an excellent reserve asset for businesses looking to amplify their return on investment for shareholders, as demonstrated by companies like Meliuz and MicroStrategy.
- The digital asset market in Brazil is the largest in Latin America, presenting opportunities for increased Bitcoin treasury activity, following in the footsteps of companies like Meliuz and MicroStrategy.
- The strategy of focusing on Bitcoin accumulation to increase shareholder value, as adopted by MicroStrategy and Meliuz, could potentially be emulated by other public companies in Brazil and the United States.
- Companies with Bitcoin treasuries give investors an opportunity to gain exposure to the price of cryptocurrency by buying the company's stock, similar to the experience offered by Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States.
