G’day Bitcoiners,

What a week it has been!

📊 Bitcoin ETFs Surpass Gold as the Top Asset in AUM!

Bitcoin ETFs have reached a historic milestone, overtaking gold ETFs with $129 billion in assets under management compared to gold’s $128 billion.

📊🌍 Mining Bitcoin, Empowering Communities: Gridless in Africa

Gridless is proving that Bitcoin mining can do more than secure the blockchain—it can foster human flourishing. In rural Africa, Gridless is leveraging stranded and renewable energy sources to mine Bitcoin while powering local communities.

📜 New Accounting Rules Let Companies Recognize Bitcoin Gains!

A game-changer for corporate treasuries: new accounting rules now allow companies to recognize Bitcoin gains and losses at fair market value. This shift eliminates outdated impairment-only models, enabling businesses to report more accurate financials.

📈 MicroStrategy Buys 15,350 BTC and Joins the NASDAQ 100!

MicroStrategy continues to lead the charge in corporate Bitcoin adoption with its latest purchase of 15,350 BTC for $1.5 billion. This move brings the company’s total holdings to 439,000 BTC and coincides with its inclusion in the NASDAQ 100.

🚀 Bitcoin Pushed Up To $108,000 USD & ETFs Inflows Stay Strong 💼

Bitcoin hit as high as $108k USD before dropping back to $100k at time of writing 💎🌕. Meanwhile, Bitcoin ETFs saw massive net daily inflows of $276m USD 📈

📢 Bitcoin ETFs Overtake Gold ETFs in Assets Under Management!

In a historic achievement, Bitcoin ETFs have surpassed gold ETFs with $129 billion in assets under management (AUM), compared to gold’s $128 billion.

Launched just 11 months ago, Bitcoin ETFs have outpaced gold ETFs, which have had over 20 years to grow—a testament to Bitcoin’s surging popularity and institutional demand.

🪙 BlackRock Leads the Bitcoin ETF Charge
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) now manages nearly $60 billion, even surpassing its own iShares Gold Trust (IAU) earlier this year.

This shift in investor preferences highlights Bitcoin’s growing dominance as a store of value. Spot ETFs Snapshot: Gold: $125B | Bitcoin: $120B (Closing the gap fast!)

📈 Bitcoin ETFs and the Debasement Trade
Bitcoin ETFs are riding the “debasement trade,” where global economic uncertainty, high inflation, and deficits drive investors to safe-haven assets like Bitcoin and gold.

The result?

Bitcoin ETFs now hold 1.1 million BTC, or 5% of all Bitcoin in circulation, solidifying their dominance.

🔮 What’s Next for Bitcoin ETFs in 2025?

The future looks bright! The introduction of Bitcoin ETF options has added new tools for investors, boosting trading activity and showcasing a maturing market.

Analysts predict 2025 could bring auto-rebalancing Bitcoin funds, leveraged Bitcoin ETFs, and dividend-paying Bitcoin ETFs, further deepening adoption and cementing Bitcoin ETFs as a core financial instrument.

🚀 Bitcoin: The New Digital Gold
Bitcoin’s capped supply and inflation-hedging qualities make it a powerful competitor to gold.

With major players like BlackRock driving adoption and regulatory clarity paving the way, Bitcoin ETFs are rewriting the rules of asset management and reshaping financial markets.

 🌍 Mining Bitcoin, Empowering Communities: The Gridless Revolution in Africa

In the heart of rural Africa, Gridless is proving that Bitcoin mining isn’t just about securing the blockchain—it’s about transforming lives.

By tapping into stranded and renewable energy sources 🌱, Gridless is bringing affordable electricity to underserved regions while mining Bitcoin ⚡. This dual-purpose mission is redefining what it means to build a sustainable future with Bitcoin at its core.

Here’s how Gridless is making an impact:

• ⚡ Powering Communities: By partnering with local energy providers, Gridless uses excess power to mine Bitcoin while ensuring affordable electricity flows to homes, schools, and businesses.

• 🌱 Sustainability First: Gridless focuses on renewable energy sources like hydro and solar, turning stranded power into opportunity.

• 📈 Fostering Growth: Electricity access unlocks education, boosts local economies, and improves healthcare—laying the foundation for thriving communities.

• 💰 Financial Inclusion: By mining Bitcoin, Gridless generates revenue that helps keep energy costs low and funds infrastructure development in remote areas.

Gridless isn’t just mining Bitcoin; it’s mining hope, opportunity, and innovation for the future. Their work highlights the untapped potential of Bitcoin to foster human flourishing in regions where traditional systems have fallen short.

🔗 Discover the full story and see how Bitcoin is driving change in Africa: Bitcoin Magazine.

📢 New Accounting Rules Recognize Bitcoin Gains!

Big win for Bitcoin treasuries: FASB’s ASU 2023-08 introduces fair value accounting for BTC! 🎉 

Companies can now report both gains 📈 and losses 📉, replacing outdated rules.

Transparent balance sheets = smarter BTC adoption! 💼✨

🔑 Fair Value Accounting Changes Everything
Old rules only allowed reporting losses 😬. Now Bitcoin is measured at fair market value, boosting confidence for companies to hold BTC as a treasury asset 🏦⚡.

🚀 A Huge Boost for Bitcoin Adoption
Fair value accounting makes BTC more attractive for businesses, clearing a major hurdle for corporate adoption 🌍.

No more impairment write-downs—just true value on the books! 💰✅

🌟 Industry Leaders Celebrate the Change

• Michael Saylor: “Fair value accounting is a gigantic win for Bitcoin adoption. Companies can now hold BTC without fear of impairment losses.” 🏆

• Anthony Pompliano: “This is a game-changer, making Bitcoin a no-brainer for public companies.” 🔥

• U.S Senator Cynthia Lummis: “A clear path for businesses to embrace Bitcoin—without the accounting headaches.” 🛠️

🇦🇺 Will Australia Follow?
While this update impacts U.S. companies under GAAP, Australia still lags behind with outdated IFRS rules 🕰️.

Pressure is mounting on the AASB to adopt a fair value model for crypto assets. Experts predict changes within 12–24 months, bringing Aussie companies closer to seamless BTC adoption! 🇦🇺💪

📢 MicroStrategy Adds 15,350 Bitcoin and Joins NASDAQ 100!

MicroStrategy isn’t slowing down! Between Dec. 9–15, the company raised $1.54 billion through share sales and used the funds to acquire 15,350 BTC for $1.5 billion 💰—at an average price of $100,386 per Bitcoin.

The confirmed inclusion in the NASDAQ 100 is expected to bring significant passive fund inflows, further boosting the company’s stock and liquidity.

🔑 The Numbers You Need to Know

• Total BTC Holdings: 439,000 BTC 🪙

• Total Cost: $27.1 billion

• Avg. Purchase Price: $61,725 per BTC

📈 BTC Yield: The New KPI for Shareholder Value
MicroStrategy’s BTC Yield tracks its Bitcoin holdings against outstanding shares. The results? A staggering 46.4% QTD and 72.4% YTD increase!

📊 Importantly, the share dilution from recent sales is accretive in Bitcoin per share, meaning shareholders now hold a higher BTC exposure for every share they own.

🌟 Why This Matters
Fresh off its inclusion in the NASDAQ 100, MicroStrategy is set to benefit from billions in passive fund inflows as index funds and ETFs adjust their holdings 🌍.

This milestone amplifies the company’s Bitcoin strategy, which is redefining corporate treasury management while delivering value to shareholders.

🔥 Setting the Benchmark for Bitcoin Adoption
With $7.65 billion in shares still available for future sales, and billions more in convertible debt issuances to come still, MicroStrategy shows no signs of stopping.

Its innovative approach and NASDAQ 100 inclusion set a new standard for companies exploring Bitcoin as a treasury asset. 🏆

🚀 Bite-Sized Bitcoin Updates 🪙

📢 Metaplanet Inc.: The Asian MicroStrategy
Metaplanet, Japan’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder, issued 4.5 billion yen ($30M) in zero-interest bonds to buy more Bitcoin. Following MicroStrategy’s playbook, Metaplanet is doubling down on BTC as a strategic asset.

• Bond Terms: 0% interest, maturing June 2025.

• Future Plans: Aiming to raise 5 billion yen through private bonds.

• Vision: “We will continue to execute our Bitcoin acquisition strategy to strengthen our financial position.”

📈 Riot Platforms: Strengthening Bitcoin Reserves
Riot Platforms bought 667 BTC for $67.5M, boosting reserves to 17,429 BTC valued at $1.8B. The mining giant continues to dominate the sector with sustainable growth initiatives.

• Funding Source: $594M raised via convertible bonds.

• Operational Expansion: Investing $525M in mining operations and renewables.

• Mining Leadership: Mined 495 BTC in November 2024.

💼 Semler Scientific: Bitcoin as a Treasury Asset
Healthcare tech company Semler Scientific added 211 BTC for $21.5M, increasing total holdings to 2,084 BTC. Their Bitcoin acquisition strategy is delivering shareholder value through impressive BTC Yield metrics.

• Total Investment: $168.6M at an average cost of $80,916/BTC.

• Recent Acquisition Cost: $101,890/BTC.

• BTC Yield (YTD): 92.8%.

• Semler: “BTC Yield is key to assessing our Bitcoin strategy’s value to stockholders.”

🏆 Hut 8 Joins the Billion-Dollar Club
Hut 8 purchased 990 BTC for $100M, pushing its holdings to 10,096 BTC, worth over $1B. As one of North America’s leading Bitcoin miners, the company employs a dual strategy of mining and strategic market purchases.

• $500M Share Issuance Program: Supporting a planned upgrade to 24 EH/s self-mining capacity by Q2 2025.

• CEO Asher Genoot: “Our Bitcoin reserve is a dynamic financial asset driving returns beyond simple price appreciation.”

Tweet of The Week

Podcast of The Week

🏙️💡 Bitcoin, The Ultimate Weapon For Freedom🟠

🌍 From Survival to Innovation: Mauricio Di Bartolomeo’s Journey with Bitcoin

For entrepreneur Mauricio Di Bartolomeo, Bitcoin wasn’t just an investment—it was a lifeline. In the face of rampant inflation and corruption in Venezuela, BTC offered his family a way to thrive amidst economic turmoil. But when they caught the attention of the government, life took a dangerous turn.

NMauricio joins Raoul on The Journey Man to share his deeply personal story of resilience, innovation, and financial transformation. Discover how his experiences inspired him to found Ledn, a leading crypto lending platform, and hear his insights on the future of crypto lending and its impact on the global financial ecosystem.

📰 Newsletters We're Reading Right Now!

• The Macro Minute: Perfect for busy professionals, this newsletter breaks down global financial trends into bite-sized pieces. Get smarter in just 5 minutes a day.

• Innovator’s Lens: Dive into the world of cutting-edge technology and startups. If you love innovation, this is your go-to read.

• The Neuron: A must-read for tech enthusiasts, The Neuron explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and innovation with sharp insights and expert analysis.

• The AI Rundown: Stay informed on the latest advancements in AI, from cutting-edge research to practical applications, all presented in a clear and engaging format.

If you have questions about how Bitcoin could help you or your business, please don’t hesitate to reach out for a free 30-minute consultation 🕒. We're here to help you navigate the future of Bitcoin safely 💡

Thanks for reading! We hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s edition and look forward to seeing you next week! 👋

For more stories and updates, visit Bitcoin on Balance.

Daniel 

for Bitcoin on Balance

32 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

https://www.bitcoinonbalance.com/