Strive, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASST) expanded its balance sheet with a fresh purchase of 1,109 Bitcoin (BTC) disclosed this week, reinforcing its status as a major corporate holder of digital assets. CEO Matt Cole confirmed the acquisition of approximately $85.4 million in Bitcoin on May 26, 2026, following a series of transactions completed between May 19 and May 22. This latest move brings the firm’s total holdings to 16,500 BTC, with the total value of these holdings across all purchases since September 2025 reaching $1.64 billion.
The disclosure, made via an 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), reveals that Strive, Inc. acquired the latest batch at an average price of $76,989 per coin. While the company’s overall average acquisition cost for its entire treasury sits at $99,617, the recent buying spree follows two other May purchases of 382 BTC and 444 BTC. Strive, Inc. now ranks as the seventh-largest public corporate holder of Bitcoin globally.
Driving corporate treasury through SATA preferred shares
Strive, Inc. is employing a strategy that prioritizes Bitcoin as a core reserve asset, a trend seen elsewhere as Morgan Stanley expands Bitcoin access for its wealth management clients. The Dallas-based firm relies on its Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, trading under the ticker SATA, to fuel its accumulation. These shares allow the company to raise capital specifically for Bitcoin purchases while providing investors with a high-yield instrument.
The SATA preferred shares carry a 13% annual dividend rate, which has been adjusted to offer an effective yield of roughly 13.88% through daily compounding across 250 trading days. Strive, Inc. announced that these distributions are scheduled to begin every business day starting June 16, 2026. This financial structure has helped propel the company’s overall market capitalization to approximately $1.38 billion, reflecting significant investor interest in the Bitcoin-centric model.
Eliminating debt to secure Bitcoin holdings
A central pillar of the company’s current financial health is the elimination of all outstanding debt. By clearing its balance sheet of traditional liabilities, Strive, Inc. has removed leverage and margin exposure, ensuring its 16,500 BTC are entirely unencumbered. This move reduces the risk of forced liquidations, a crucial consideration even when Bitcoin holds steady during broader market fluctuations. The company reported $93.3 million in cash and cash equivalents as of May 22, providing a liquidity buffer for its daily dividend obligations.
Beyond its direct Bitcoin ownership, Strive, Inc. maintains a stake in Strategy Inc.’s STRC preferred stock valued at over $50 million. Strive, Inc. management believes their current cash reserves and marketable securities, when combined with their Bitcoin holdings, provide a dividend runway that could last approximately 20 years. This long-term outlook is designed to reassure investors of the sustainability of the 13% yield, even though the company currently faces an unrealized loss of about $373 million based on its average entry price.
Matt Cole views Bitcoin as a hedge against AI and inflation
CEO Matt Cole has been vocal about the rationale behind the firm’s aggressive acquisition phase. He argues that Bitcoin is the “only answer” to the ongoing global debt crisis and the debasement of fiat currencies. Cole developed this conviction while managing large portfolios of U.S. Treasuries, where his direct interactions with the Federal Reserve and the Treasury department highlighted the inherent risks of the traditional financial system.
Cole also presents Bitcoin as a strategic hedge against the rise of artificial intelligence. He told followers on social media that while AI presents both risks and opportunities to modern businesses, placing Bitcoin on a balance sheet provides a counterweight to those risks. This philosophy appears to be resonating with the market; ASST stock has gained 133% over the past three months as the company continues to execute its Bitcoin-first treasury mandate.
Future accumulation and capital raise programs
Strive, Inc. is not slowing its pace. The firm is currently evaluating new at-the-market (ATM) stock sale programs for both its Class A common stock and its SATA preferred shares. These programs would allow the company to raise additional capital to fund future Bitcoin acquisitions when market conditions are favorable. For U.S. investors, the SATA product remains notable because its dividends are classified as Return of Capital (ROC), which makes the daily payments tax-deferred.
Despite the current spot price remaining below the company’s average acquisition cost of $99,617, the leadership team views these levels as an opportunity to build a generational reserve. As some analysts warn of sharp correction risks for institutional players, Strive, Inc. is betting that its debt-free status and long-term dividend strategy will allow it to withstand volatility while continuing its climb up the corporate Bitcoin treasury rankings.