CEO Predicts Public Companies Could Own 3M BTC by 2026 Amid Rapid Institutional Adoption
Publicly traded companies are accelerating their Bitcoin accumulation, with Bitcoin Magazine CEO David Bailey forecasting that corporate holdings could surge to between 2 and 3 million BTC by the end of 2026. In a recent April 25 post on X, Bailey highlighted the growing trend of companies announcing Bitcoin treasury strategies, noting that what is now a weekly occurrence may soon become a daily one.
CEO Predicts Public Companies Could Own 3M BTC by 2026, citing increasing participation from over 1,000 cash-flowing and capital-raising firms across global markets. These companies are expected to use diverse investment strategies and financial instruments to gain exposure to Bitcoin.
Currently, public entities hold more than 700,000 BTC. Bailey outlines two scenarios: if Bitcoin’s price remains stable, public companies could hold over 1 million BTC by the end of 2025. However, if Bitcoin rallies, Bailey believes public firms could collectively own between 2 and 3 million BTC by late 2026.
Recent data supports Bailey’s projection. Bitwise reported on April 14 that the number of publicly traded firms holding Bitcoin grew by 16.11% in Q1 2025, with 12 new companies joining the ranks—bringing the total to 79. This 17.91% quarter-over-quarter increase has been partially attributed to new FASB accounting rules that now allow Bitcoin to be reported at fair market value.
Top Public BTC Holders and Growing Global Interest
MicroStrategy, led by Michael Saylor, remains the largest corporate Bitcoin holder, now owning 538,200 BTC after acquiring an additional 6,556 BTC for $555.8 million this week. Other major holders include MARA Holdings (47,600 BTC), Riot Platforms (19,223 BTC), CleanSpark (11,869 BTC), and Tesla (11,509 BTC).
Globally, the momentum is building as well. Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has committed to a 10,000 BTC target by the end of 2025. In April alone, the firm purchased a total of 1,490 BTC across four separate acquisitions, reaching the halfway mark with 5,000 BTC now in its reserves.
As institutional confidence grows and regulatory clarity improves, Bailey’s prediction that public companies could own 3M BTC by 2026 is looking increasingly realistic.
