Bitcoin News

Story: Bitcoin to $500K Still in Play as Governments Quietly Increase Exposure, Says Standard…

By Maheen Hernandez

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Bitcoin long-term growth outlook has received a powerful boost from a surprising source — sovereign wealth funds and government-managed investment entities.

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The British multinational bank has tied its projection to increasing indirect exposure to Bitcoin through shares of MicroStrategy (MSTR), a company known for holding large…

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In the first quarter of 2025, at least 12 government-linked institutions increased their holdings in MicroStrategy.

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Standard Chartered’s Global Head of Digital Assets Research, Geoffrey Kendrick, noted that sovereign investors are using MicroStrategy as a proxy for Bitcoin in jurisdictions…

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“We believe that in some cases, MSTR holdings by government entities reflect a desire to gain Bitcoin exposure where local regulations do not allow direct BTC holdings,” Kendrick…

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The list of government-related buyers includes several notable names:

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South Korea’s pension and investment authorities

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Each reportedly added MSTR shares representing around 700 BTC in exposure.

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Meanwhile, U.S. state retirement systems in California, New York, North Carolina, and Kentucky collectively added exposure equivalent to 1,000 BTC.

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This trend highlights growing institutional interest in Bitcoin at the sovereign level — a significant shift from retail-driven demand seen in previous market cycles.

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While U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs were approved in 2024, sovereign adoption of these products has been slower than expected.

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Despite the slower ETF uptake, Standard Chartered sees the increase in MSTR holdings as a strong confirmation of its thesis: that Bitcoin will continue attracting new…

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Standard Chartered’s bold projection is based on a few key factors:

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Growing institutional demand: As Bitcoin becomes a recognized digital store of value, more long-term investors are entering the market.

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Supply constraints: With only 21 million BTC ever to be mined, growing demand inevitably exerts upward pressure on price.

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