On August 18, 2025, Nasdaq-listed company BTCS announced it will distribute the world's first cryptocurrency dividend to shareholders, paying $0.05 per share in Ethereum (ETH). This groundbreaking initiative includes an additional loyalty payment of $0.35 per share for investors who transfer shares to the company's transfer agent and maintain them from September 26, 2025, through January 26, 2026. The combined $0.40 payout represents approximately 9% of BTCS's current $4.41 share price.
This strategic move aims to reward long-term shareholders while discouraging short selling, as transferred shares become unavailable for lending. The loyalty program specifically excludes company executives and employees, prioritizing retail investors. BTCS currently holds 70,140 ETH (valued over $300 million) against a $211 million market valuation, with management citing the dividend as a method to realign the stock price with its net asset value.
As the first publicly traded company to issue cryptocurrency dividends, BTCS sets a precedent for corporate adoption of digital assets. The initiative provides shareholders direct exposure to Ethereum without exchange intermediaries and signals growing institutional acceptance of cryptocurrencies beyond speculative trading.