Altvest Capital Limited has become the first publicly traded company in Africa to adopt Bitcoin as a strategic treasury asset.

The company announced its initial investment in Bitcoin (BTC) as part of a broader treasury management strategy, which aims to strengthen financial resilience, preserve shareholder value, and gain direct exposure to the world’s largest crypto asset.

Bitcoin as Treasury Asset

The company cited Bitcoin’s characteristics as its motive behind the announcement. This includes its scarcity – capped at 21 million BTC – which positions it as a hedge against inflation and currency debasement, particularly relevant given the depreciation risks associated with the South African Rand.

Additionally, Bitcoin’s decentralization and censorship-resistant nature provide a level of security unmatched by other cryptocurrencies, while its increasing institutional adoption worldwide validates its legitimacy as a store of value.

According to the official press release, Altvest’s board conducted a comprehensive risk assessment before making this investment, concluding that Bitcoin aligns with its alternative asset philosophy, which prioritizes long-term growth and macroeconomic risk mitigation. The company has also implemented a structured risk management framework to monitor and optimize its Bitcoin exposure in line with treasury objectives.

Altvest said that while many digital assets do not meet its strict investment criteria due to inflationary supply mechanisms, centralized governance structures, and regulatory uncertainties – Bitcoin stands out as the only viable option.

“Bitcoin is fundamentally different from other digital assets. It is the only truly decentralized, scarce, and globally recognized digital asset that aligns with Altvest’s investment philosophy. We see Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset that enhances our treasury portfolio while providing a hedge against economic instability and currency depreciation.”

Growing Corporate Shift Toward Bitcoin Reserves

Altvest’s decision to adopt Bitcoin as a treasury asset aligns with a broader corporate shift toward digital asset reserves. The trend was catalyzed by Michael Saylor’s Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), which began purchasing Bitcoin in 2020 and has since accumulated 478,740 BTC, which is now worth more than $47 billion.

Tokyo-based Metaplanet joined the wave in April last year, amassing 2,100 BTC worth nearly $200 million. According to CEO Simon Gerovich, the company plans to expand its holdings to 10,000 BTC.

It was a relatively slow and quiet uneventful week for the cryptocurrency markets but Friday turned the tables around with some big news.

But before we dive into the major developments that took place earlier today, let’s focus on the price movements over the past week. Recall that the largest digital asset spiked to $99,000 last Friday where it was met by the bears and was not allowed to progress toward the coveted six-digit territory.

The weekend was quite sluggish as BTC traded at around $97,000. The market started to retrace as the new business week began, which culminated on Tuesday afternoon with a massive crash for bitcoin that drove it to under $93,500. This became its lowest price point since the early February massacre.

Nevertheless, the cryptocurrency reacted well after this nosedive and regained its composure rather rapidly. Within the next few days, it had rebounded to around $96,000 and began its gradual increase toward $100,000.

Earlier today, BTC peaked at just under $99,600 following major news from Coinbase’s CEO, Brian Armstrong. The exec indicated that the lawsuit between the exchange and the US securities regulator will be dismissed as early as next week by the SEC.

However, the bitcoin bulls had little time to celebrate as one of Coinbase’s competitors – Bybit – was hit with a massive $1.5 billion hack. The news, especially since it was confirmed by the company’s CEO, sent shockwaves through the market and BTC tumbled by over two grand within minutes.

BTC has recovered some ground since then and now sits slightly above $98,000, which means it has increased by 1.5% since this time last week. TRX and LTC are the two top performers from the larger-cap alts, while SOL and DOGE have plunged the most, followed by LINK, TON, SUI, SHIB, PEPE, and many others.

Market Data

Market Cap: $3.363T | 24H Vol: $129B | BTC Dominance: 58.1%

BTC: $98,500 (+1.6%) | ETH: $2,748 (+0.5%) | XRP: $2.63 (-3.2%)

This Week’s Crypto Headlines You Can’t Miss

Coinbase CEO Boasts About SEC Lawsuit Dismissal – Is Ripple Next? The CEO of Coinbase, Brian Armstrong, took to social media to reveal that the US Securities and Exchange Commission is planning to withdraw its case against the exchange. The decision to dismiss the lawsuit, however, is still pending approval, which is expected by next week.

Bitcoin Decouples From S&P 500 – Good or Bad for BTC? Throughout the past three weeks, it appears that the correlation between the S&P 500 and Bitcoin has been on the decline. As of a few days ago, it actually dropped to zero, suggesting good times ahead for bitcoin, at least according to historical performances.

SEC Withdraws Appeal in DeFi Dealer Classification Case. The SEC has willingly withdrawn its appeal of a ruling that blocked its attempt to expand existing securities regulations to decentralized finance (DeFi). Coupled with its decision to drop the case against Coinbase, the week has been very positive for the industry in this specific regard.

Trump Declares End to Biden’s Crypto Policies. US President Donald Trump has officially declared the end of Biden’s policies related to cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin’s price and the broader crypto market experienced an uptick in response.

Meme Coin Meltdown: Crypto Community Turns Against Speculative Tokens. Multiple cryptocurrency proponents have spoken against the speculative nature of meme coins following the latest scandal that made waves in the media, such as ‘Libragate.’ It’s related to the meme coin, which received public endorsement from the president of Argentina.

Litecoin (LTC) Surges 46% in Just 2 Weeks on ETF Buzz. It turns out that Litecoin, regarded by many as a ‘dino coin,’ is one of the best performers in the past two weeks. The cryptocurrency soared by more than 46% during that period as expectations of an LTC ETF approval in the US mounted.

Charts

This week, we have a chart analysis of Ethereum, Ripple, Cardano, Binance Coin, and Solana – click here for the complete price analysis.

[PRESS RELEASE – Dover, Delaware, February 21st, 2025]

With its Bitcoin-in, Bitcoin-out model, Acre simplifies compounding for BTC holders while empowering decentralized networks with economic security.

Acre, the first Bitcoin platform for compounding BTC, announced today the un-gating of its decentralized application (dApp) alongside a $4 million strategic funding round at a $90M fully diluted valuation. With over $100 million in Total Value Locked (TVL), Acre is the first platform designed to help Bitcoin holders securely compound their BTC while maintaining full control.

The launch of Acre’s dApp gives Bitcoin holders a simple, Bitcoin-native way to participate in decentralized finance (DeFi) opportunities. This funding round highlights growing confidence in Acre’s mission to bring economic security to decentralized networks while upholding Bitcoin’s core principles of self-sovereignty and transparency.

Strategic Funding to Fuel Growth and Ecosystem Expansion

Acre’s $4 million strategic round includes participation from Draper Dragon, Big Brain Holdings, and Orange DAO, along with key angel investors from Threshold Network, Lido, EigenLayer, Wormhole, BoB, Thesis, VVV, and Quantstamp. The new capital will be used to strengthen Acre’s ecosystem, support projects building on the platform, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the protocol as it moves toward mainnet rewards.

“Acre is delivering exactly what the DeFi ecosystem needs—simple, secure solutions that make it easy for holders to put their BTC to work,” said Jakov Buratović, contributor to Lido DAO, Master of DeFi is the right way “Their focus on user-friendly, Bitcoin-native tools aligns perfectly with my personal mission to support projects that drive real, sustainable growth in decentralized finance. We’re excited to support a platform that’s making a meaningful impact.”

“This investment reflects both the strength of our community and Acre’s potential to reshape how Bitcoin holders engage with their assets,” said Laura Wallendal, CEO and co-founder of Acre. “With the dApp now open to the world, we’re excited to offer a simple, secure way for Bitcoin holders to compound their BTC without sacrificing financial sovereignty. Acre is about empowering users with full control while ensuring their Bitcoin actively contributes to the success of the broader ecosystem.”

Acre’s dApp: Secure, Bitcoin-Native Compounding Without Complexity

With the public launch of the Acre dApp, users can now easily deposit BTC and engage with the platform’s rewards ecosystem. The dApp has undergone extensive testing and integrates with three major wallets to ensure both accessibility and security. Acre’s Bitcoin-in, Bitcoin-out model simplifies the process while compounding directly in BTC.

Key Features of the Acre dApp:

• Full Control of Assets: Users retain full control over their Bitcoin while engaging with Acre, with no reliance on centralized custodians.
• Onchain Transparency: All transactions are fully visible and verifiable on-chain—no black boxes or hidden mechanisms.
• Acre Points Program: Designed to foster community involvement and give users meaningful ways to engage within the Acre ecosystem.

Traction and Community

Since launching its gated mainnet, Acre has grown to over $100 million in BTC TVL. The platform’s community has expanded from 6,000 to over 36,000 active members since September 2024, generating over 8 million engagement points and hosting more than 42 community-led events. This growth reflects increasing demand for Bitcoin-native solutions that prioritize user control and transparency.

“Bitcoin is the original DeFi, and Acre empowers BTC holders to participate in decentralized opportunities without needing to learn new chains or compromise on security,” Wallendal added. “It’s all Bitcoin—sweet, simple, and sovereign.”

The Right Time for Bitcoin-Native Compounding

As Bitcoin’s role in decentralized finance continues to evolve, Acre is positioned to serve the growing number of retail users seeking transparent, secure ways to compound their BTC. Unlike projects that chase inflated TVLs or unsustainable growth, Acre is focused on building long-term, community-driven solutions.

With the dApp now open to the public, Acre is preparing for future integrations with Layer 2 networks, decentralized insurance protocols, and other emerging DeFi applications. These developments will expand opportunities for Bitcoin holders to participate in decentralized ecosystems while maintaining the core principles of financial sovereignty.

About Acre

Acre is a Bitcoin-first platform that helps BTC holders compound their Bitcoin while maintaining full control of their assets. By connecting Bitcoin to decentralized protocols like lending, insurance, and Bitcoin layer 2 networks, Acre creates a seamless way for users to compound their Bitcoin without complexity or the risk from centralized custodians.

Founded by the team behind projects like Thesis, Fold, and tBTC, and supported by the team members of economic security leaders Lido, Eigenlayer, and Wormhole, Acre brings over a decade of Bitcoin expertise with a focus on simplicity and transparency. To learn more about how Acre is compounding Bitcoin, users can visit https://acre.fi.