MSCI is contemplating a brand new rule that may take away corporations from its International Investable Market Indexes if 50% or extra of their property are held in digital property similar to Bitcoin. The proposal seems easy, however the implications are far-reaching. It might have an effect on corporations like Michael Saylor’s Technique (previously MicroStrategy), Eric and Donald Trump Jr’s American Bitcoin Corp (ABTC), and dozens of others throughout international markets whose enterprise fashions are absolutely legit, absolutely regulated, and absolutely aligned with long-standing company treasury practices.
The aim of this doc is to clarify what MSCI is proposing, why the considerations raised round Bitcoin treasury corporations are overstated, and why excluding these corporations would undermine benchmark neutrality, cut back representativeness, and introduce extra instability—not much less—into the indexing system.
MSCI launched a session to find out whether or not corporations whose main exercise entails Bitcoin or different digital-asset treasury administration ought to be excluded from its flagship fairness indices if their digital-asset holdings exceed 50% of complete property. The proposed implementation date is February 2026.
The proposal would sweep in a broad set of corporations:
- Technique (previously MicroStrategy), a significant software program and business-intelligence agency that holds Bitcoin as a treasury reserve.
- American Bitcoin Corp (ABTC), a brand new public firm created by Eric and Donald Trump with a Bitcoin-focused stability sheet.
- Miners, infrastructure corporations, and diversified working corporations that use Bitcoin as a long-term inflation hedge or capital reserve.
These corporations are all publicly traded working entities with audited financials, actual merchandise, actual clients, and established governance. None are “Bitcoin ETFs.” Their solely distinction is a treasury technique that features a liquid, globally traded asset.
JPMorgan analysts lately warned that Technique may resist $2.8B in passive outflows if MSCI removes it from its indices, and as much as $8.8B if different index suppliers comply with.
Their evaluation appropriately identifies the mechanical nature of passive flows. Nevertheless it misses the actual context.
Technique has traded greater than $1 trillion in quantity this yr.
The “catastrophic” $2.8B situation represents:
- Lower than one common buying and selling day
- ~12% of a typical week
- ~3% of a typical month
- 0.26% of year-to-date buying and selling movement
In liquidity phrases, that is immaterial. The narrative of a liquidity disaster doesn’t match market construction actuality. The bigger challenge will not be the outflow itself—it’s the precedent that index exclusion would set.
If benchmark suppliers start eradicating corporations due to the composition of their treasury property, the definition of what qualifies as an “eligible firm” turns into political, not monetary.
MSCI’s coverage place additionally conflicts with the composition of MSCI’s personal property.
MSCI experiences roughly $5.3B in complete property.
Greater than 70%—about $3.7B—is goodwill and intangible property. These are non-liquid, non-marketable accounting entries that can not be offered or marked to market. They don’t seem to be verifiable in the identical means that digital property are.
Bitcoin, against this:
- Trades globally 24/7
- Has clear value discovery
- Is absolutely auditable and mark-to-market
- Is extra liquid than almost any company treasury asset exterior sovereign money
The proposal would penalize corporations for holding an asset that’s way more liquid, clear, and objectively priced than the intangibles that dominate MSCI’s personal stability sheet.
MSCI is a worldwide standard-setter. Its benchmarks are utilized by trillions of {dollars} in capital allocation. These indices are ruled by broadly accepted ideas—neutrality, representativeness, and stability. The proposed digital-asset threshold contradicts all three.
Neutrality
Benchmarks should keep away from arbitrary discrimination amongst lawful enterprise methods.
Firms are usually not eliminated for holding:
- Massive money positions
- Gold reserves
- Overseas alternate reserves
- Commodities
- Actual property
- Receivables that exceed 50% of property
Digital property are the one treasury asset singled out for exclusion. Bitcoin is authorized, regulated, and broadly held by establishments worldwide.
Representativeness
Indices are supposed to replicate investable markets—not curate them.
Bitcoin treasury methods are more and more utilized by companies of all sizes as a long-term capital-preservation device. Eradicating these corporations reduces the accuracy and completeness of MSCI’s indices, giving traders a distorted view of the company panorama.
Stability
The 50% threshold creates a binary cliff impact.
Bitcoin routinely strikes 10–20% in regular buying and selling. An organization may fall out and in of index eligibility a number of instances a yr merely on account of value motion, forcing:
- Pointless turnover
- Extra monitoring error
- Larger fund implementation prices
Index suppliers sometimes keep away from guidelines that amplify volatility. This rule would introduce it.
Compelled Promoting
If MSCI proceeds, passive index funds would wish to promote holdings in affected corporations.
But the real-world influence is marginal as a result of:
- Technique and ABTC are extremely liquid
- Flows characterize a tiny fraction of regular buying and selling quantity
- Lively managers are free to proceed holding or growing publicity
Entry to Capital
Analysts warn that exclusion may “sign” threat. However markets adapt rapidly.
So long as an organization is:
- Liquid
- Clear
- Capable of elevate capital
- Capable of talk its treasury coverage
It stays investable. Index exclusion is an inconvenience—not a structural impairment.
Precedent Threat
If MSCI embeds asset-based exclusion guidelines, it units a template for eradicating corporations primarily based on their financial savings selections somewhat than their enterprise fundamentals.
That could be a path towards politicizing international benchmarks.
Bitcoin treasury methods are increasing internationally:
- Japan (Metaplanet)
- Germany (Aifinyo)
- Europe (Capital B)
- Latin America (a number of mining and infrastructure corporations)
- North America (Technique, ABTC, miners, and energy-Bitcoin hybrids)
If MSCI excludes these corporations disproportionately, U.S. and Western corporations are positioned at a aggressive drawback relative to jurisdictions that embrace digital capital.
Indexes are supposed to replicate markets—not decide nationwide winners and losers.
MSCI’s latest dealing with of Metaplanet’s public providing exhibits it understands the dangers of “reverse turnover.” To keep away from index churn, MSCI selected not to implement the occasion on the time of providing.
This acknowledgement underscores a broader fact: inflexible guidelines can destabilize indices.
A digital-asset threshold creates related fragility on a a lot bigger scale.
MSCI can obtain transparency and analytical readability with out excluding lawful working corporations.
A. Enhanced Disclosure
Require standardized reporting of digital-asset holdings in public filings.
This provides traders readability with out altering index composition.
B. Classification or Sub-Sector Label
Add a class similar to “Digital Asset Treasury–Built-in” to assist traders differentiate enterprise fashions.
C. Liquidity or Governance Screens
If considerations are about liquidity, governance, or volatility, MSCI ought to use the factors it already applies uniformly throughout sectors.
None require exclusion.
The proposal doesn’t resolve an actual drawback.
It creates a number of:
- Reduces representativeness of worldwide indices
- Violates neutrality by discriminating towards a selected treasury asset
- Introduces instability by means of a binary threshold tied to an asset with regular volatility
- Creates pointless turnover for passive funds
- Damages international competitiveness
- Units a precedent for politicized index building
Bitcoin is cash. Firms shouldn’t be penalized for saving cash—or for selecting a long-term treasury asset that’s extra liquid, extra clear, and extra objectively priced than most company intangibles.
Indexes should replicate markets as they’re—not as gatekeepers favor them to be.
MSCI ought to withdraw the proposal and preserve the neutrality that has made its benchmarks trusted throughout international capital markets.
Disclaimer: This content material was written on behalf of Bitcoin For Companies. This text is meant solely for informational functions and shouldn’t be interpreted as an invite or solicitation to amass, buy or subscribe for securities.