MSCI Retains DAT Companies in Global Indexes: MSTR Stock Surges 5% as Crypto Influence Grows

Index giant MSCI just handed crypto-linked stocks a major vote of confidence—and the market's reacting.

The Institutional Stamp of Approval

When MSCI decides a company stays in its global indexes, it's not just a routine check. It's a signal to the world's largest asset managers and pension funds that the firm meets stringent criteria for liquidity, market cap, and governance. Keeping these DAT companies in the fold suggests their operational and financial footing is solid enough for the big-league institutional capital. It's a quiet but powerful endorsement in an arena regulators still eye warily.

Why a 5% Pop Matters

A single-day 5% jump for MSTR isn't just about trader enthusiasm. It reflects a growing recognition that certain public equities are becoming direct proxies for crypto asset performance. The move underscores how traditional finance metrics are increasingly intertwined with digital asset sentiment—whether the old guard likes it or not. It's a liquidity event that validates the bridge being built between Wall Street and crypto-native strategies.

The Bigger Picture: Index Inclusion as a MoAT

Staying inside major indexes like those from MSCI isn't just about prestige. It forces passive funds and ETFs to hold the stock, creating a built-in base of steady demand. That structural support can mute volatility and provide a floor during sector-wide downturns. For companies operating in the volatile digital asset space, that index membership acts as a moat—a layer of legitimacy and stability that pure-play crypto firms can't easily replicate. Yet another case of the traditional system offering shelter to those innovating at its edges.

So, while suits in corner offices debate blockchain's "real value," the market's already voting with its wallet—proving once again that finance's most cynical rule holds: money flows where it's treated best, not where it's most politely invited.

MSCI Inc., a global provider of stock market indexes, has made its decision on digital assets treasury (DATs) companies. The $18 trillion stock index will allow companies such as Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ: MSTR) to remain in MSCI-related global indexes.

MSCI Bends to Public Demand for Bitcoin and Crypto

According to the announcement. DAT companies MSCI will remain in MSCI Indexes for the Feb 2026 review. After a public consultation, MSCI made the decision to have crypto treasury companies included in its global indexes.

“This broader review is intended to ensure consistency and continued alignment with the overall objectives of the MSCI Indexes, which seek to measure the performance of operating companies and exclude entities whose primary activities are investment-oriented in nature,” MSCI noted.

Strategy Stock Rises on the News

Following the announcement, MSTR stock gained over 5% during the after-hours on Tuesday to trade at about $167.7 at press time. Strategy opposed the exclusion of DATs on MSCI global indexes due to the unfair treatment, which risked loss of over $2 billion if the ruling were otherwise.

$MSTR will remain in MSCI indexes. https://t.co/ite5vBbmGK

Metaplanet Inc. (Tokyo: 3350) led other top DATs in bullish sentiment, with the company’s stock closing Tuesday up 8.9%.

What’s Next?

The decision by the MSCI to include DATs on its global indexes will have a profound impact on the crypto industry, particularly Bitcoin. During the fourth quarter of 2025, the Bitcoin price was trapped in a choppy consolidation amid notable fears of MSTR’s exclusion from the MSCI. 

With the index expected to invest in DATs, led by Strategy, the demand for Bitcoin will scale further in the near term. As such, BTC price will follow the S&P 500 in hitting a new all-time high in 2026, potentially a parabolic move.