MEI Pharma becomes first US-listed public company to adopt Litecoin as primary treasury reserve

MEI Pharma, a US-listed biotech firm, has allocated $110.4m to Litecoin as its primary treasury reserve, the first public company to do so. The move was developed with GSR and Litecoin creator Charlie Lee, reflecting a shift toward operational use of crypto in non-fintech sectors. MEI cited Litecoin's uptime, efficiency, and broad integration as key reasons for the pivot from cash to crypto reserves.

MEI Pharma, a U.S.-listed biotech firm, has made a significant move in the crypto space by allocating $110.4 million to Litecoin (LTC) as its primary treasury reserve. This marks the first time a U.S.-listed public company has adopted Litecoin as a primary reserve asset [1].

The acquisition, valued at approximately $110.4 million as of Aug. 4, is part of a broader institutional treasury strategy developed in collaboration with crypto market maker GSR and Litecoin creator Charlie Lee. The company purchased 929,548 LTC tokens at an average price of $107.58, positioning Litecoin as a strategic alternative to traditional reserve holdings [1].

MEI Pharma cited several reasons for its decision, including Litecoin's 13+ years of uptime, low fees, and fast settlements, making it ideal for treasury and operational use cases. Additionally, Litecoin's integration into platforms like PayPal, BitPay, Venmo, and Robinhood offers significant merchant and user traction [1].

This move reflects a broader trend of public firms exploring digital assets as part of long-term capital diversification. While other publicly traded firms hold Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) in their treasuries, MEI is the first to exclusively adopt Litecoin as a primary reserve asset [1].

MEI Pharma's treasury model is being guided by GSR, which will advise on market structure, governance, and execution. The company emphasized its continued focus on its drug candidate pipeline, including voruciclib, a CDK9 inhibitor currently in pre-clinical stages, despite this broader pivot towards fintech and potentially even Litecoin mining [1].

The convergence of traditional finance and digital assets is no longer a speculative exercise but an operational reality. Platforms like WSPN's Global Payment 1.0, launched in August 2025, exemplify how API-driven infrastructure is dismantling the barriers between crypto and fiat ecosystems. These platforms enable seamless crypto-fiat conversions, KYB compliance, and stablecoin integration for cross-border payments and hedging, accelerating institutional adoption [2].

The investment implications of MEI Pharma's move and the rise of API-driven crypto infrastructure signal a shift from speculative bets to utility-driven assets. For investors, platforms that enable institutional access to digital assets will capture disproportionate value as global crypto transaction volume is projected to hit $10.8 trillion in 2025 [2].

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mei-pharma-chooses-not-bitcoin-143823425.html
[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/wspn-global-payment-1-0-game-changer-institutional-crypto-adoption-2508/