Public Companies Buying Bitcoin in 2025: A Guide for Beginners

Have you ever wondered how big companies, the ones you see on the stock market, are jumping into the world of Bitcoin? It might seem like a complex, behind-the-scenes process, but in 2025, it's becoming a surprisingly common practice. Gone are the days when Bitcoin was just for tech enthusiasts and early adopters. Today, major corporations are adding it to their balance sheets right alongside traditional assets like cash and gold.

In this article, we'll demystify this trend and give you a clear, easy-to-understand look at how public companies are buying Bitcoin in 2025. We'll explore the main strategies they use, the reasons behind their decisions, and the latest news and statistics from the world of corporate crypto. By the end, you'll feel like a financial insider, ready to explain this exciting shift to your friends.

Why Are Companies Buying Bitcoin? The Big Picture

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." Why are companies like Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) and even media giants like Trump Media & Technology Group so keen on holding Bitcoin?

Think of a company's treasury as its bank account. Traditionally, this account holds cash, bonds, and other safe, predictable assets. But in an era of inflation, where the value of a dollar can slowly decrease over time, many companies are looking for a way to protect their purchasing power.

This is where Bitcoin comes in. Many CEOs and financial officers see Bitcoin as a form of "digital gold"—a scarce asset that can act as a hedge against inflation. Others are simply betting on its long-term growth, hoping that its value will increase over time and boost their company's overall worth.

As Stephen Cole, CEO of a Bitcoin treasury solutions provider, told Investopedia, the question for many businesses is "quickly going from if to when" they will acquire Bitcoin [Source: Investopedia].

The Main Ways Companies Acquire Bitcoin in 2025

So, how do these companies actually get their hands on Bitcoin? It's not as simple as opening a Coinbase account and hitting "buy." They use sophisticated strategies to buy and manage these digital assets.

1. The Direct Treasury Purchase: The "Michael Saylor" Model

This is the most direct and, in many ways, the most famous method. A company decides to allocate a portion of its cash reserves directly to Bitcoin. Michael Saylor, the Executive Chairman of Strategy, is the pioneer of this approach. His company has become synonymous with corporate Bitcoin adoption, holding over 600,000 BTC as of mid-2025 [Source: Strategy Press Release].

How it works:

• The company's board of directors approves a plan to buy Bitcoin.

• They use existing cash from their operations or raise money through other means (like issuing new stock or debt).

• They then work with institutional-grade crypto trading platforms or brokers to execute large-scale, over-the-counter (OTC) purchases. This is like buying in bulk directly from a wholesaler, which is much more efficient than buying on a public exchange that might not have enough supply for a massive order.

This strategy is often seen as a bullish signal, as it shows a strong belief in Bitcoin's future. It's a "put your money where your mouth is" approach.

2. Bitcoin Mining: The "Earn and Hold" Strategy

Some companies, especially those in the tech and energy sectors, are taking a different route: they mine Bitcoin themselves.

Analogy: Imagine a company that owns a gold mine. Instead of buying gold on the open market, they dig it out of the ground. Bitcoin miners do the same thing, but digitally. They use powerful computers to solve complex mathematical problems, and when they succeed, they are rewarded with new Bitcoin.

Companies like Marathon Digital (MARA) and Riot Platforms are prime examples. They earn Bitcoin as part of their core business and then choose to keep a significant portion of it on their balance sheet. This helps them hedge against price volatility and signals their long-term commitment to the Bitcoin network [Source: Finder].

3. Using Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)

This is a simpler, less direct way for companies to get exposure to Bitcoin. A Bitcoin ETF is like a basket of stocks that holds Bitcoin. When you buy a share of the ETF, you're not buying Bitcoin directly, but you are investing in a fund that holds it.

How it works:

• A company can buy shares of a spot Bitcoin ETF (like those from BlackRock or Fidelity) through their regular brokerage account.

• This is much easier from a legal and regulatory standpoint, as the company doesn't have to worry about the technical challenges of securely storing the Bitcoin themselves.

• The number of Bitcoin ETFs and related products is growing rapidly. According to a Bloomberg analyst, more such products are expected to be approved by the end of 2025, making this an increasingly viable option for corporations [Source: Investopedia].

4. Becoming a "Bitcoin Treasury" Company

This is a new and exciting trend in 2025. Some companies are specifically created, or they rebrand themselves, with the primary goal of holding Bitcoin. Their business model is not to sell a product or service, but to be a public vehicle for investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin.

For example, a Japanese company called Metaplanet, which was originally in hospitality, has now shifted its strategy to become a Bitcoin holding company [Source: Finder]. A new company, Twenty One Capital, is structured to "accumulate and hold BTC for shareholders, similar to an exchange-traded fund (ETF) but structured as a corporate entity" [Source: Finder].

These companies offer investors a way to participate in the Bitcoin market without having to deal with the complexities of buying and storing the asset directly.

The Logistics: How Do They Store It Safely?

Buying Bitcoin is one thing, but protecting a billion-dollar treasury of digital assets is a whole other challenge. Public companies can't just keep their Bitcoin on a simple app. They need institutional-grade security.

They typically use one of two main methods:

• Institutional Custody: This is the most common approach. The company hires a specialized, regulated third-party firm to securely store its Bitcoin. Think of it like a high-tech digital bank vault. These firms use a combination of "cold storage" (keeping the Bitcoin keys offline) and advanced security protocols to protect the assets from hackers.

• Self-Custody with Multisig: For companies with a high level of technical expertise, they might choose to manage their own Bitcoin. They do this by using a "multisignature" (or multisig) setup. This is like a lockbox that requires multiple keys to open. For a transaction to happen, several trusted individuals from the company must approve it, eliminating a single point of failure.

Key Statistics and News from 2025

The trend of corporate Bitcoin adoption is accelerating. Here are some of the latest numbers and developments:

• Growing numbers: According to a Bitwise Asset Management report, the number of public companies holding Bitcoin on their balance sheets has grown to an estimated 125, a significant increase from the previous year [Source: CryptoDnes].

• The "Saylor Effect": Strategy's aggressive accumulation continues. In July 2025, the company announced it had used proceeds from a stock offering to acquire over 21,000 new bitcoins, bringing their total holdings to over 628,000 [Source: Strategy Press Release].

• C-Suite Sentiment: A recent Deloitte survey of North American CFOs found that 23% of finance chiefs at companies with over $1 billion in revenue believe their treasury departments will use crypto for investments or payments within the next two years. This number jumps to nearly 40% for larger corporations with revenues over $10 billion [Source: Deloitte].

Conclusion: Bitcoin is Officially a Corporate Asset

The story of public companies buying Bitcoin in 2025 is not just about a few risky ventures. It's about a fundamental shift in how corporations think about money, value, and the future. From direct treasury purchases to the rise of new "Bitcoin treasury" companies, the world's most innovative businesses are finding secure, legitimate ways to embrace this new digital asset.

For you, the reader, this trend offers a new lens through which to view the stock market. When you see a company adopting a Bitcoin strategy, you now understand the sophisticated reasons behind it and the various methods they employ. It's a clear signal that Bitcoin is no longer a fringe asset—it's an integral part of the global financial landscape.