(ProCap BTC corrects that Citadel is not an investor in the new
company in paragraph 7; Corrects name of company to
'MicroStrategy ( MSTR )' (not 'Strategy') in paragraph 4)
*
ProCap BTC raises $750 million in equity and convertible
note
*
ProCap Financial to use bitcoin for revenue via lending,
derivatives
*
Institutional investors commit capital, but Reuters can't
verify
investments
By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss
BOSTON, June 23 (Reuters) - U.S. investor and
entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano announced on Monday the creation
of a new bitcoin treasury company that would hold up to $1
billion of the world's largest cryptocurrency on its balance
sheet.
Pompliano said in a statement that his financial services
firm ProCap BTC would merge with Columbus Circle Capital I ( CCCM ), a
special purpose acquisition company, to create ProCap
Financial, a bitcoin treasury firm.
Several public companies have employed bitcoin treasury
strategies, which involve allocating a portion of their cash and
reserves toward bitcoin, to replicate the success of software
company MicroStrategy ( MSTR ), which began accumulating bitcoin
in 2020 and now holds more than $63 billion worth of the digital
token.
The trend comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has
sought to overhaul cryptocurrency policy, including calls to
establish a strategic bitcoin reserve, after courting cash from
the industry on the campaign trail.
Pompliano, one of the biggest investors in the crypto space
over the last several years, said ProCap BTC has raised $500
million in equity and $250 million in a convertible note, in
what he termed the largest initial fundraising in history for a
bitcoin treasury company.
Unlike traditional bitcoin treasury companies, Pompliano
said ProCap Financial would use its bitcoin balance sheet to
generate revenue and profit through a variety of strategies,
including lending, derivatives, and other products and services.
He also said leading institutional investors Susquehanna,
Jane Street, and Magnetar have committed capital, as have crypto
firms Off the Chain Capital, Pantera, Coinfund, Parafi,
Blockchain.com, and FalconX.
Reuters was unable to verify whether these
companies were investing in ProCap Financial.
"The legacy financial system is being disrupted by bitcoin
right before our eyes," Pompliano said.
"Our objective is to develop a platform that will not only
acquire bitcoin for our balance sheet, but will also implement
risk-mitigated solutions to generate sustainable revenue and
profits from our bitcoin holdings."