Healthcare Tech Firm Semler Scientific to Increase Bitcoin Holdings 28 Times
Healthcare technology company Semler Scientific Inc. announced plans to increase its Bitcoin portfolio by nearly 28 times over the next 2.5 years, expanding holdings from 3,808 BTC to 105,000 BTC.
The company targets 10,000 BTC by year-end, 42,000 BTC by the end of 2026, and the final 105,000 BTC position by 2027, according to a June 13 statement.
Financing for the expansion will come from equity, debt, and operational cash flows. The company appointed Joe Burnett as Director of Bitcoin Strategy to oversee the initiative.
Semler began its cryptocurrency journey in May 2024 and aims to maintain a long-term Bitcoin investment strategy. Current holdings of over 3,800 BTC place the company at the 13th largest public Bitcoin holder according to BitBo analytics.
Semler’s initiative aligns with a growing trend among publicly traded firms prioritizing Bitcoin investments, with a 0.5% Bitcoin allocation representing approximately 210,000 BTC of the total 21 million Bitcoin supply. Japanese investment firm Metaplanet separately announced a 210,000 BTC purchase target by 2027.
Industry Expert Cautions Against Bitcoin Strategy
VanEck research director Matthew Sigel warned that companies using Bitcoin purchases to raise capital should consider halting their strategies if stock prices approach parity with Bitcoin value.
Sigel cautioned that Semler’s shares (down ~41% year-to-date) “are now approaching parity,” potentially triggering negative equity effects through stock dilution.
Significant Paper Gains Realized
Semler reports $177 million in Bitcoin-related paper gains through June 3 and a 287% overall yield from the investments. The company ranks fourth globally by Bitcoin exposure per share (0.00034 BTC) among 130 Bitcoin-holding publicly traded companies.
Burnett’s expertise includes previous roles at Unchained and Blockware Solutions, alongside experience at Big Four accounting firm Ernst & Young. “The trend to adopt Bitcoin as part of corporate treasury is clearly accelerating,” Burnett stated regarding the strategic initiative.
