Strategy Inc. Jumps 5.7% as MSCI Stands Firm: Digital Asset Treasury Companies Keep Their Index Throne
MSCI just handed crypto-correlated stocks a major vote of confidence—and the market roared its approval.
The Index Giant Holds the Line
In a move that sent shockwaves through both traditional finance and digital asset circles, global index provider MSCI decided against purging companies with digital asset treasuries from its benchmark indexes. The immediate beneficiary? Strategy Inc., whose shares surged 5.7% on the news. The decision signals a pivotal shift, treating crypto holdings not as a scarlet letter but as a legitimate—and potentially value-accretive—corporate strategy.
Validation Beyond the Price Pump
This isn't just about a single-day stock pop. MSCI's stance effectively legitimizes the growing trend of companies using Bitcoin and other digital assets as treasury reserves. It tells institutional investors that these companies belong in the same portfolios as their 'pure-play' traditional counterparts. The message is clear: asset diversification into crypto is transitioning from a fringe gamble to a recognized financial maneuver.
The Ripple Effect Across Finance
Expect the fallout to extend far beyond Strategy Inc.'s ticker. Other firms publicly holding digital assets on their balance sheets just received a de facto risk assessment upgrade from one of finance's most influential arbiters. This lowers the perceived compliance and reputational hurdle for more CFOs to consider allocating to digital assets. Liquidity begets liquidity, and legitimacy begets adoption.
A Cynical Win in a Numbers Game
Let's be real—for the quant-driven world of index investing, this was likely less about believing in 'digital gold' and more about cold, hard methodology. Removing these companies would have introduced tracking error and disrupted billions in passive fund allocations. Sometimes, financial innovation advances not on ideology, but on the sheer inertia of institutional capital. The system, in its own clumsy way, is adapting.
The dam isn't just cracking; the gates are being recalibrated. MSCI's decision underscores a new reality: digital assets are now woven into the fabric of corporate finance, and the old guard's playbooks are being rewritten—one index reconstitution at a time.
MSCI embraces and adopts a massive plan in its operation
After several considerations, reports revealed that MSCI decided to classify DATCOs as firms where digital assets comprise around 50% or more of their total assets. Notably, the inclusion of DATs in this situation assures the companies continue to qualify for passive index funds. These funds are essential for their operations, as they help companies maintain stable demand and liquidity while increasing institutional ownership of digital assets.
On the other hand, sources claimed that if, by any chance, DATs are excluded from this broader picture, then Strategy and other DATs could face substantial losses worth billions, especially in passive capital inflows.
Following this announcement, data from Google Finance indicated that the largest crypto treasury company, Strategy, which holds approximately $63 billion in Bitcoin, experienced a considerable rise of around 5.7% in its shares after-hours trading.
Analysts also weighed in on the topic of discussion. They acknowledged that the development of DATs was established as a worldwide trend, specifically among institutions in 2024 and 2025.
However, many individuals revealed facing sharp declines in the price of their shares in the second half of 2025. This scenario sparked concerns in the ecosystem as many began questioning the sustainability of such strategies.
Morgan Stanley decided to explore the crypto market
As uncertainties surrounding the crypto industry continue to escalate, recent reports have disclosed that US investment bank Morgan Stanley has successfully submitted a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requesting permission from the agency to develop two cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Sources close to the situation, who wished to remain anonymous, pointed out that one fund is intended to concentrate on Bitcoin, while the other will primarily focus on Solana.
Interestingly, apart from the growing uncertainties in the crypto industry, analysts discovered that this significant milestone comes at a time when Wall Street companies are considering alternatives in regulated digital asset products.
Meanwhile, documents filed with the SEC on Tuesday, January 6, highlighted that the planned Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust and Morgan Stanley Solana Trust will function as passive investment tools that can effectively hold and closely track the value of the underlying cryptocurrencies.
Additionally, the documents revealed that these two funds aim to ensure their shares are listed on public exchanges, which are typically detailed in later 19b-4 filings rather than the initial S-1 forms.
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