Adoption of the “Saylization” strategy has emerged as one of the decisive financial trends in 2025. Public companies ranging from Japan’s Metaplanet to European Blockchain Groups are restructuring their capital frameworks to prioritize the accumulation of Bitcoin (BTC).
Joe Burnett, former director of market research at Unchained and now director of Bitcoin Strategy at Semler Scientific, said these companies aren’t simply following the US leads, and in some cases outweighed that. In an exclusive interview with Beincrypto, he spoke on behalf of Unchained, driving businesses towards digital gold and delving into how Bitcoin can restructure corporate preparameters.
Bitcoin: Resilient Corporate Balance Sheet Assets
Beincrypto recently reported that at least 61 companies have adopted Bitcoin financial strategies and are continuing to join the list. Whether it’s Brazilian Mary’s or Japan’s Anap Holdings, everyone is adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets.
Burnett argues that this is not just a passing trend, but the emergence of Bitcoin as a corporate financial asset for the next decade.
“Beyond the size of the pay raise, what’s important here is the intention. Companies around the world are optimizing their financial infrastructure with a focus on Bitcoin. They’re not only looking at balance sheet hedging, but they’re building on the principles of hard money,” he said.
So, what’s on fire in this global pivot? He explained that Bitcoin is addressing a key gap in financial infrastructure. In areas where inflation erodes cash reserves, Bitcoin offers a compelling alternative in areas where access to the dollar is limited or where cross-border payments are slow and expensive.
Even in a stable market, motives vary, but they are also strategic. Companies allocate Bitcoin as a long-term reserve asset. This is based on unique financial characteristics such as fixed supply, global neutrality and transparent issuance.
“In either context, Bitcoin is not a replacement for the system, but a key hedge for businesses that think beyond the short-term market cycle,” Burnett told Beincrypto.
The executive emphasized that while holding Bitcoin, while capital can be protected, it will be converted into a “working asset” by integrating it into a capital structure. Bitcoin’s global trading ability, immediate settlement and immunity to capital management allow businesses to access credit, improve liquidity and reduce their reliance on the traditional financial system.
This is especially valuable in markets where credit is rare or infrastructure is underdeveloped.
“For companies looking ahead, adopting Bitcoin doesn’t just maintain value. It’s about building a more resilient and flexible balance sheet that can work in both legacy and emerging financial systems,” he said.
The future of Bitcoin reserves in corporate capital structures.
While companies are already using Bitcoin as collateral for reserve assets and loans, Burnett predicts that assets will become a fundamental component of the corporate capital structure over the next decade.
“We could potentially be that more companies issue debts to acquire Bitcoin or use it as collateral for their credit and liquidity strategies, which are the pioneer of MicroStrategy, which is currently adapted in both the public and private markets,” the executive said.
This approach is gaining traction as it rethinks how businesses balance fairness, debt and cash reserves. As Bitcoin’s role as a financial product grows, it will help companies create new ways to raise capital and manage their financial operations, according to Burnett.
Therefore, businesses can start their operations outside of traditional banking systems using Bitcoin-based strategies for financial management and capital formation.
But what does this mean for traditional financial institutions? Due to the growing demand for BTC, traditional financial institutions are facing calculations.
“Bitcoin challenges some of the core assumptions that traditional financial institutions are being built on, and this is the asset of the bearer with a final settlement, not frozen, reversed or intermediary,” Burnett pointed out.
However, he added that several institutions have already adapted. Banks like BNY Mellon and BBVA are seeking custody and advisory services.
But Burnett believes these institutions still rely on traditional financial systems and infrastructures that are not designed for digital assets such as Bitcoin. Therefore, without deeper integration into the Bitcoin native ecosystem, these institutions will face the challenges of fully supporting companies using Bitcoin as a central part of their financial strategy.
Therefore, banks need to adopt a more sophisticated Bitcoin-specific system that operates within a decentralized digital currency framework.
“The disparity is becoming more clear: agencies that deal with Bitcoin as core infrastructure and delayed infrastructure. Institutions that move early are better positioned to support clients whose assets are globally, transparently and without trustworthy intermediaries,” commented Barnett.
How companies navigate the risk of booking bitcoin
It is worth noting that Bitcoin Reserve Strategy is not without challenges. Sygnum recently warned that companies face bankruptcy risks and could also contribute to market destabilization.
Burnett acknowledged these concerns. He attributed the risk to inadequate execution, not Bitcoin.
“If you’re using short-term capital and have no access to liquidity, and you don’t have an internal process to handle the volatility of the market, that’s a vulnerable setup. It’s not that Bitcoin causes risk. Some companies usually skip structures that apply to other volatile assets,” he mentioned Beincrypto.
According to Burnett, the solution lies in disciplined strategies. Companies that use long-term capital, establish clear policies and avoid leverage can treat Bitcoin as a stable reserve rather than a speculative bet.
With multi-facility custody, access to credit and strong internal control, solid infrastructure is important to ensure that Bitcoin fits seamlessly into a broader financial strategy.
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