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“Bitcoin Bubble” Making You Nervous? There’s a Better Way to Access Crypto’s Upside

Crypto markets may well call 2025 their year of revival, with Bitcoin breaking $105,000 and a range of smaller coins gaining steam, primarily driven by regulatory clarity, institutional adoption, and supportive U.S. policies. 

This stands, of course, in stark opposition to the last crypto bull run, fueled mainly by ZIRP-era monetary policy, and indicates that crypto adoption has reached the mainstream (look no further than the range of Bitcoin ETFs issued by illustrious FinServ companies like Fidelity and BlackRock for proof).

Of course, direct investment in crypto of any time still makes some uneasy.

Others may want to augment their existing direct investment with a little more exposure hedged by an operational underpinning.

For that investor class, crypto-adjacent stocks are the go-to strategic avenue.

These companies, engaged in blockchain infrastructure, crypto exchanges, or stablecoin issuance, offer exposure to digital asset growth within the (relative) stability of traditional equities.

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A Surge in Crypto-Adjacent Opportunities

Crypto’s 2025 rally, propelled by a 40% Bitcoin price increase post-U.S. elections and a whopping 75% over the past year, is juicing interest in crypto-adjacent equities. 

Key crypto-adjacent drivers include:

  • Regulatory Tailwinds: The SEC’s 2024 approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs and President Trump’s March 2025 executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve signal institutional “smart money” confidence.

    ETF inflows have surged since their inception, totaling approximately $135 billion in assets collectively today. 

  • Stablecoin Adoption: Stablecoin market sizing grew 46% to $247 billion, with transaction volumes surpassing Visa and Mastercard at $27.6 trillion in 2024, driven by their use in trading and cross-border payments.

    Likewise, major retailers like Walmart and Amazon are exploring an independent stablecoin ecosystem to avoid expensive processing fees.

  • Enterprise Integration: Approximately 20% of Fortune 500 companies are exploring blockchain for payments and supply chains, boosting demand for infrastructure providers.

Note, however, that Bitcoin treasury strategy stocks (Strategy [formerly Microstrategy] being the most visible) tend to trade at 20–50% NAV premiums and lack operational depth, making them riskier bets. 

For that reason, investors looking to snag crypto upside should look to either invest directly in the coin(s) of their choosing or diversify their risk a bit with crypto-adjacent companies offering a little more meat besides acting as a pot of (even more expensive) Bitcoin.

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Risks in Crypto-Adjacency

As with any speculative investment, the crypto-adjacent sector faces significant risks. 

  • Cryptocurrency volatility (remember that Bitcoin fell 22% in a week in 2024) can impact related stocks, with exchange operators losing market cap as fast or faster than Bitcoin itself. 

  • Regulatory uncertainties, including potential EU restrictions or U.S. policy shifts (a reverse-TACO, if you will), could disrupt operations. 

  • Cybersecurity threats, such as the 2022 exchange hacks that cost $2 billion and numerous others in crypto’s nascent phase, including Mt. Gox in 2014, pose significant challenges.

  • Treasury strategy stocks, with NAV premiums and weak operations, are vulnerable; a Bitcoin drop below just $90,000 (a 14% drop, which isn’t totally out of the question) could render half their treasuries underwater.

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Why Now?

Crypto-adjacent stocks provide a strategic avenue to capitalize on digital asset growth without direct exposure to cryptocurrencies, but making the right picks is tough in a space flooded with bandwagoners looking to snag a slice of the mounting enthusiasm.

The Main Takeaway

Avoid Bitcoin treasury strategy stocks with NAV premiums and weak operations. Volatility could erode value, limited fundamental backbones will likely lead to delisting, at best.
Diversify with ETFs and prioritize firms with diversified revenue, sustainable finances, and a degree of operational insight into the future grounded in reality.
Focus on companies with established crypto infrastructure roles for long-term stability.

Top Picks to Capture Crypto Upside

Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF (NYSEARCA: BLOK)

  • Expense ratio: 0.73%, or $73 on a $10,000 investment.

BLOK tracks a wide range of crypto-adjacent firms, including Robinhood Markets, Coinbase, Block, and lesser-known players such as Opera, alongside foreign, tough-to-access firms like Metaplanet.

Up 25% year-to-date, its 5.36 TTM% yield and 0.8 beta provide stability. 

Circle (NASDAQ: CRCL)

You’re doubtlessly familiar with the stablecoin issuer after its post-IPO surge to a $46-and-change billion market cap.

Up a massive 560%+ since its June 2025 IPO, it trades at a premium.

Diversified revenue supports stability, while ongoing stablecoin developments boost its upside, but its steep valuation demands caution..

Core Scientific (NASDAQ: CORZ)

This ~$3.6 billion small-cap miner earned 6,595 Bitcoin in 2024, with diversified revenue from hosting services and AI data centers.

Up 13% over the past month, its speculative profile offers direct crypto growth exposure, but volatility persists. No P/E yet, reflecting early-stage risks.

IBM Corporation (NYSE: IBM)

The long-standing, “legacy” $270 billion tech leader is a steadier bet on long-term crypto-adjacent opportunities, with its quantum-safe cryptography including algorithms like CRYSTALS-Kyber.

Up 30% or so since January, its diversified cloud and AI revenue, with a 2.3% forward yield, offers a nice cushion if crypto markets go sideways.

That’s it for today’s edition—thanks for reading! Reply to this email with any feedback or let me know which macro trends or markets you’d like me to cover next.

Best Regards,
—Noah Zelvis
Macro Notes