How MicroStrategy Bitcoin Itch is Being Enabled by Barclays, Citigroup and Other Top Banks

Top banks stick their necks out to support Strategy’s (MicroStrategy) Bitcoin itch.

Despite persisting debates about the sustainability of MicroStrategy’s (now Strategy) Bitcoin treasury… strategy, demand for the debt instruments fueling the firm’s digital asset purchases shows no signs of slowing as investors seek high beta exposure to the asset. Now, Banks are taking note.

In the latest instance highlighting this, at least four top banks are set to underwrite the firm’s latest convertible note offering to facilitate more Bitcoin buys.

A Packed Roster

On Tuesday, February 18, the firm announced that it plans to raise another $2 billion through senior convertible notes with a 0% interest rate for general corporate purposes and, of course, to facilitate more Bitcoin purchases.

Strategy Announces Proposed Private Offering of $2.0B of Convertible Senior Notes. $MSTRhttps://t.co/cQcf2FxV0k

— Strategy (@Strategy) February 18, 2025

According to VanEck Head of Digital Asset Research Matthew Sigel, prominent banks like Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Citigroup, and Goldman Sachs will manage this new sale.

The participation of these prominent names is likely to inspire greater confidence among investors, boosting Strategy’s goals.

Lucrative Fees

The increased desire to participate in Strategy’s capital-raising efforts comes as demand shows no signs of slowing, with these banks undoubtedly eying the lucrative underwriting fees.

A recent instance is the success of the firm’s perpetual preferred offering, Strike Preferred Stock (STRK), which offers long-term dividend payments to investors. The firm stated that the offering beat expectations, raising over $560 million, roughly thrice the projected target.

At the same time, analysts continue to highlight that demand for the instrument is growing even after the capital raise as its price has surged over 23% since from $80 to about $98.60 at the time of writing—the best performing and most liquid perpetual security to be listed in the U.S. since 2022.

With up to 2% of sale proceeds paid to underwriters, Strategy’s $560 million STRK offering translates to a $11.2 million fee pool for banks.

With the planned $2 billion offering, banks stand to gain even more, as it will translate to an estimated $40 million fee pool.

Michael Saylor Won?

Factoring these lucrative fees, the continued demand, and the improving crypto regulatory environment, more banks will likely throw their hats in the ring to facilitate Strategy’s capital-raising efforts.

One market pundit has tipped this likely trend as evidence of the success of the firm’s Bitcoin strategy.

“The beginning of the financialization of Bitcoin is settled; Michael Saylor won,” Arch Public co-founder Andrew Parish, better known as “AP Abacus” on X, asserted in a recent post.

Banks are falling all over themselves and each other to finance the next $10-20B @MicroStrategy Bitcoin purchases.

The beginning of the financialization of Bitcoin is settled; @saylor won.

Banks are actively seeking out the next dozen firms that will/could replicate what…

— Andrew (@AP_Abacus) February 8, 2025

Strategy holds 478,740 BTC worth nearly $46 billion after failing to announce new purchases last week in line with its almost weekly shopping spree. The firm intends to raise $42 billion to buy the asset through 2027. This year alone, the company has already purchased 31,270 BTC at an aggregate price of $3.17 billion.