MicroStrategy founder and prominent Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor has tipped crypto miner MARA Holdings as the next Bitcoin-related firm to secure a spot in the prestigious Nasdaq 100 index. The prediction came in response to MARA Holdings’ chairman and CEO, Fred Thiel, who congratulated Saylor on MicroStrategy’s recent inclusion in the index. “Thanks Fred. I expect $MARA will be the next,” Saylor stated in a Dec. 14 post on X . MicroStrategy Enters Nasdaq 100 The comment followed Thiel’s message celebrating MicroStrategy’s addition to the Nasdaq 100, set to take effect before the start of trading on Dec. 23. Being part of the Nasdaq 100 is a significant milestone, as it signifies membership among the top 100 non-financial companies on the Nasdaq exchange by market capitalization. MicroStrategy’s market cap reached $94.77 billion as of Dec. 13, while MARA’s stood at $7.32 billion, according to Financecharts data. Fred Thiel acknowledged Saylor’s remark, highlighting MARA’s ambition to reach this goal. “We’re working hard to get there,” he stated. MARA’s recent financial moves underline this determination. The firm invested over $600 million in Bitcoin within the past two months, according to a Dec. 2 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Thanks Fred. I expect $MARA will be the next. — Michael Saylor (@saylor) December 14, 2024 MARA’s stock has also experienced positive momentum. It closed at $22.73 on Dec. 13, reflecting a 16.74% increase over the past six months. MicroStrategy, meanwhile, ended the day at $408.67, up a remarkable 173.27% over the same period, according to Google Finance data. The addition of MicroStrategy to the Nasdaq 100 comes alongside two other companies, while Illumina, Super Micro Computer, and Moderna are being removed. The reshuffling of the index reflects its dynamic nature and the growing influence of Bitcoin-focused firms. MARA’s ambitions extend beyond stock market performance. On Nov. 26, the company called for stronger U.S. action to “secure dominant positions in Bitcoin and Bitcoin mining,” framing it as a national security issue. MARA Acquires Nearly 12K Bitcoin MARA Holdings (MARA) bought 11,774 BTC in the latest acquisition, the company announced on X on Dec. 10. The mining firm purchased Bitcoin using proceeds from its zero-coupon convertible notes offerings, paying approximately $1.1 billion at an average price of $96,000 per Bitcoin. This brings MARA’s total Bitcoin holdings to 40,435 BTC as of Dec. 9, valued at $3.9 billion based on the current Bitcoin price. MARA has also reported a 12.3% yield on its Bitcoin holdings quarter-to-date and a 47.6% yield year-to-date. Riot Platforms, a Bitcoin mining company, also announced plans to raise $500 million through a private bond offering to bolster its Bitcoin reserves further. Additionally, MicroStrategy, a business intelligence firm and known Bitcoin advocate, further expanded its already substantial Bitcoin holdings. According to an official filing from Dec., 9, MicroStrategy acquired 21,550 BTC for approximately $2.1 billion between Dec. 2 and 8. This purchase, executed at an average price of $98,783 per Bitcoin, brings MicroStrategy’s total Bitcoin holdings to 423,650 BTC, valued at around $41.5 billion. The post Michael Saylor Predicts MARA Holdings as the Next Bitcoin Firm to Join Nasdaq 100 appeared first on Cryptonews .
