Semler Scientific Boosts Bitcoin Holdings by 111 BTC, Stock Rises 3%

Semler Scientific, a Nasdaq-listed healthcare company, has significantly increased its Bitcoin holdings, now owning 3,303 BTC valued at nearly $314 million. The company announced on Friday that it had purchased an additional 111 BTC for $10 million, continuing its strategy of investing in Bitcoin as a means to generate better returns for shareholders.

Chairman Eric Semler, during an interview at the Bitcoin Standard Corporation Investor Day event in New York, addressed shareholders who may be skeptical of the company's Bitcoin strategy. He stated that those who do not support the company's approach are welcome to sell their stock, emphasizing that Semler Scientific is a public company and shareholders have the right to sell or stop their investments. Semler also noted that the company's Bitcoin holdings are not a liability that would force them to sell if the value of Bitcoin decreases.

Semler Scientific first began acquiring Bitcoin last year with a $40 million transaction to purchase 581 BTC. The company has since continued to buy more Bitcoin, following a model similar to that of software company Strategy, which is the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin. Strategy began buying Bitcoin in 2020 as a way to achieve better returns for shareholders amidst rising inflation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has since aggressively acquired more Bitcoin and now owns 538,000 BTC, valued at $51 billion.

Other companies listed on the Nasdaq have also started to follow suit, with firms like Cosmos Health and auto manufacturer Worksport investing in Bitcoin. Semler Scientific's stock has seen a nearly 3% increase on Friday, trading at $35.40 per share, while Bitcoin has risen nearly 2% on the day, surpassing the $95,000 mark for the first time in two months.