TLDR
- David Bailey, a Trump crypto adviser, has raised $300 million for a new Bitcoin investment firm called Nakamoto
- The funding includes $200 million in equity and $100 million in convertible debt
- Nakamoto plans to merge with a Nasdaq-listed company and go public this summer
- The firm will focus on acquiring and holding Bitcoin, similar to Michael Saylor’s Strategy
- Bailey’s venture joins other new Bitcoin investment firms like Twenty One (Jack Mallers) and Strive Asset Management
David Bailey, CEO of crypto media company BTC Inc. and an adviser to US President Donald Trump on digital assets, has raised $300 million to launch a new Bitcoin investment firm. The venture, named Nakamoto after Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, aims to become a publicly traded company focused on acquiring and holding the cryptocurrency.
The funding round, which has been in motion since January, consists of $200 million in equity and $100 million in convertible debt. While Bailey has not officially announced the raise, an official reveal and merger with a Nasdaq-listed company is expected as early as next week.
When news of the investment firm circulated, Bailey posted “No comment” on X, formerly Twitter, on May 7. The combined entity is set to go public this summer, according to reports from CNBC and The Information.
Global Expansion Strategy
Nakamoto’s business model follows that of companies like Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), which transformed into a Bitcoin-holding powerhouse under Michael Saylor’s leadership. The firm plans to invest in and acquire businesses globally, targeting countries such as Brazil, Thailand, and South Africa.
The venture will deploy Bitcoin as part of its capital structure in these global investments. Reports indicate the firm is backed by high-profile investors and includes an advisory board featuring several prominent figures from both the financial and crypto sectors.
Bitcoin investment firms raise large sums of money through a mix of equity and debt to buy and hold Bitcoin. Their stock becomes another way for investors to bet on the price of Bitcoin.
This approach has proven successful for Strategy under Saylor, who began converting the company’s cash reserves into Bitcoin in 2020. This move transformed the software company into a de facto Bitcoin holding company, with its stock value soaring as Bitcoin rallied.
Bailey’s venture enters the market during a period of renewed enthusiasm for institutional Bitcoin investment. Several major fundraising announcements have recently emerged from firms with similar models.
On April 24, Twenty One Capital, led by Strike founder Jack Mallers with support from Tether, SoftBank, and Cantor Fitzgerald, announced its intention to become the “superior vehicle for investors seeking capital-efficient Bitcoin exposure.”
Mallers told CNBC’s Crypto World: “What we really pride ourselves on is being blue-chip credibility with startup upside. We feel like we’re big enough to win entering the market with billions of dollars of capital upon launch, but we’re small enough to grow and we’re small enough to post bitcoin-denominated returns.”
On May 7, Strive Asset Management, founded by entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, revealed plans to transition into a Bitcoin treasury company. The firm is going public through a reverse merger and plans to use the combined company’s stock to accumulate Bitcoin.
Once the deal closes, Strive plans to issue about $1 billion in equity and debt and use the proceeds to accumulate BTC. Crypto influencer TylerD commented on the trend, noting that “The pace of these new BTC companies launching is accelerating.”
Bailey’s close connection to President Trump adds another layer of interest to this development. As a key crypto advisor to the administration, Bailey’s move signals growing mainstream acceptance of Bitcoin as an institutional investment vehicle.
The $300 million raise positions Nakamoto as a major player in the increasingly competitive Bitcoin investment space. The expected public listing this summer will provide another option for investors seeking exposure to Bitcoin through traditional market instruments.
According to reports, Nakamoto’s official announcement and details of its Nasdaq merger are expected in the coming week.
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