Strive Challenged MSCI Bitcoin Index Rules
Strive formally requested clarity on proposed MSCI criteria that may exclude companies with Bitcoin-based treasuries.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Investing
Live Poll
Should companies that hold bitcoin in their corporate treasuries be excluded from major stock market indices?
Investment firm Strive has submitted a formal request to MSCI seeking clarification on proposed index screening rules that could impact companies holding Bitcoin. The firm argues that current proposals fail to properly account for Bitcoin as an operating asset within modern business structures.
Why it matters
The outcome of this consultation will determine if companies utilizing Bitcoin for corporate treasury operations remain eligible for major stock indices. Strive seeks to ensure index methodologies reflect the evolving role of digital assets in lending and finance.
MSCI is evaluating potential exclusion criteria for firms with Bitcoin-based treasuries based on its preliminary simulation modeling. The consultation addresses definitions that currently fluctuate between US GAAP and IFRS accounting standards for digital assets.
The players
Strive
Strive is an investment firm that advocates for corporate governance and asset management transparency.
MSCI
MSCI is a global provider of investment decision support tools, including stock market indices used by institutional investors.
Matt Cole
Matt Cole serves as the President and CEO of Strive.
The details
Strive is pushing for more transparent parameters as MSCI conducts a public consultation process regarding its index inclusion standards. The dispute highlights a growing friction between traditional index methodology and the corporate adoption of Bitcoin as a treasury asset.
Timeline
September 30, 2026: The public consultation period concludes.
October 16, 2026: Official index methodology conclusions will be released.
November 2026: New index review standards take effect.
Market Dynamics
This dispute follows the ongoing global friction between traditional index methodologies and the adoption of digital assets within corporate finance. It mirrors the broader challenge of reconciling disparate US GAAP and IFRS accounting frameworks for decentralized digital currencies.
Retail and institutional investors should monitor these changes as they could shift the composition of widely held indices. Changes to index eligibility may alter the underlying holdings of certain ETFs and mutual funds tracking those benchmarks.
The takeaway
This confrontation underscores the difficulty of integrating decentralized digital assets into standardized global index reporting. Investors should expect continued volatility in index eligibility as accounting bodies work to harmonize digital asset definitions across jurisdictions.
What happens next
MSCI will release its final methodology conclusions on October 16, 2026, which will dictate index eligibility for the November 2026 review cycle.
Further reading
For more information on market trends and standards, visit the Investing section.
More information
Read the Strive official MSCI consultation comments regarding index inclusion criteria.
Live Poll
Should companies that hold bitcoin in their corporate treasuries be excluded from major stock market indices?
