Vanguard Group, the $12 trillion asset management giant, has increased its holdings in Strive ($ASST) to 27.63 million shares, valued at approximately $17.6 million. This move, reported by BitcoinTreasuries data on February 4, 2026, provides Vanguard with indirect exposure to Bitcoin through Strive's corporate treasury strategy.
Strive, originally founded in 2022 by Vivek Ramaswamy as an anti-ESG investment firm, underwent a significant transformation in late 2025, rebranding itself as a "Bitcoin Treasury Company." The company solidified this strategy in January 2026 with the acquisition of Semler Scientific. Following this deal, Strive now holds over 13,130 BTC, valued at roughly $1 billion, placing it among the top ten corporate Bitcoin holders globally.
Vanguard's increased stake is described as a technical, index-driven move rather than an active bet on Bitcoin. As a major provider of total market index funds, Vanguard is required to hold shares of nearly all investable U.S. public companies. The share increase appears to be a response to Strive issuing new equity, including a $225 million preferred stock offering in January 2026, to finance its Bitcoin purchases. Index trackers like Vanguard then purchase additional shares to maintain proper fund composition.
This mechanism effectively channels Bitcoin exposure into the portfolios of millions of passive investors who hold standard Vanguard index funds. The development highlights how corporate Bitcoin accumulation can subtly integrate cryptocurrency into mainstream financial holdings.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin's price faced pressure, trading around $67,100 on February 5, 2026, after breaking below key support levels. Analysts note the Relative Strength Index (RSI) dropped to 27, indicating oversold conditions. Despite the short-term volatility, some Wall Street forecasts, like those from Standard Chartered's Geoff Kendrick, suggest Bitcoin could still reach between $175,000 and $250,000 if broader economic momentum improves.
