Bitcoin News Today: Mexican REIT Allocates $500M to Bitcoin in Strategic Treasury Shift

Mexican real estate firm Murano Global Investments has announced a significant shift in its treasury strategy by allocating up to $500 million toward Bitcoin, signaling a broader trend among publicly traded companies to adopt crypto as a strategic asset. The firm, which operates hotels across Mexico, has also joined a corporate Bitcoin alliance and purchased 21 BTC as a treasury asset. This move comes as the crypto market shows renewed signs of recovery, with Bitcoin trading near $91,649.

Murano's investment is structured through a standby equity purchase agreement (SEPA) that will primarily fund its Bitcoin allocation. The company emphasizes that it will continue operating its real estate and hospitality businesses while exploring ways to incorporate BTC into customer payment and loyalty programs. The firm's CEO, Elias Sacal, described Bitcoin as a transformative asset that can hedge against inflation and systemic risk.

Meanwhile, other major players in the Bitcoin treasury space are adjusting their strategies amid a challenging market. Strategy, the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, has significantly slowed its BTC purchasing rate in 2025. Analysts at CryptoQuant suggest this is a defensive move to prepare for a potential bear market. Monthly BTC purchases by Strategy have dropped from 134,000 in late 2024 to just 9,100 in November 2025, with only 135 BTC purchased so far in December.

Why the Standoff Happened

Strategy's approach reflects a broader shift among crypto treasury firms to prioritize liquidity and risk management over aggressive accumulation. The firm has established a $1.44 billion U.S. dollar reserve to cover dividend payments and debt obligations, signaling its readiness for extended periods of weak market conditions. This strategic pivot has been interpreted as an acknowledgment that Bitcoin's price volatility could require selective monetization or hedging in difficult scenarios.

The bear market preparations by Strategy and others also come amid a regulatory shift. MSCI has proposed a policy change that would exclude companies holding more than 50% of their assets in Bitcoin from major stock market indexes. Such a move would cut off firms like Strategy from the passive inflows typically associated with index inclusion. In response, Strive, another crypto treasury firm, has criticized the proposal as "unworkable" and called for a more flexible framework.

How Markets Reacted

Despite the bearish signals, the broader crypto market has shown signs of resilience. Bitcoin surged above $91,649 on December 6, 2025, while Ethereum and several altcoins also experienced gains. Analysts attribute this rebound to renewed institutional participation, particularly after Vanguard's removal of restrictions on ETFs. This has led to fresh inflows into digital-asset funds, elevating risk appetite among investors.

Institutional adoption is not limited to Bitcoin. Gaming firm SharpLink Gaming (SBET) has become the largest publicly traded holder of ether, with a $470 million ETH treasury. The company has staked its holdings and earned 120 ETH in rewards since the strategy's inception. This trend mirrors the playbook of Strategy but with a focus on Ethereum, reflecting a broader diversification in how companies are integrating crypto into their balance sheets.

What Analysts Are Watching

Academic research increasingly supports the idea that crypto and equities are becoming tightly intertwined, especially during periods of market stress. Professor Andrew Urquhart, a finance expert at Birmingham Business School, notes that Bitcoin no longer behaves like the "digital gold" it was once touted to be. Instead, it increasingly resembles a high-beta tech asset with significant exposure to global risk factors. This means that during market downturns, crypto and equities may not offer the diversification benefits once expected.

Analysts are also watching how ETFs and broader institutional adoption might further tighten the link between crypto and traditional markets. The recent approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs has been a major catalyst, and as more institutional players enter the space, the interdependence between crypto and equities is likely to deepen. This raises questions about how traditional portfolio strategies will need to adapt in the face of increasingly correlated asset classes.

Risks to the Outlook

Despite the current optimism, several risks remain. The regulatory landscape continues to evolve, with potential changes to how crypto treasury companies are treated in major stock indexes. Additionally, Bitcoin's price remains vulnerable to macroeconomic shifts, particularly those affecting interest rates and global risk sentiment. A prolonged bear market could force even the most well-capitalized firms to consider selling their crypto holdings, as cash buffers are depleted.

Moreover, the integration of crypto into corporate balance sheets is still in its early stages. While firms like Murano and SharpLink Gaming are pioneering the use of crypto as a treasury asset, widespread adoption will require greater regulatory clarity and institutional infrastructure. For now, the market is navigating a delicate balance between growth and caution, with both bulls and bears keeping a close eye on the next major price move.