Record High! The number of publicly listed companies holding Bitcoin has surged by nearly 40%, with a total value exceeding $118.4 billion: Is BTC aiming for $160,000?

Despite the recent increase in fluctuation in the crypto market, the accumulation of Bitcoin by enterprises has reached record levels. This quarter, the number of publicly listed companies holding Bitcoin surged by nearly 40%, reaching 172. According to the latest data, these companies collectively hold over 1.02 million Bitcoins, valued at over $11.84 billion. Publicly listed companies increased their holdings by more than 193,000 Bitcoins this quarter, a quarter-on-quarter rise of 20.68%, far exceeding growth in other sectors. Analysts attribute this acceleration to improvements in the regulatory environment and expect that sustained institutional inflows could drive Bitcoin towards $160,000 in the fourth quarter.

Public Companies' Bitcoin Holdings Surge: Institutions Set New Historical Records

The latest data shows that publicly traded companies have become the driving force behind the wave of Bitcoin institutional adoption.

· The number of companies holding positions has reached an all-time high

Asset management company Bitwise reported on Wednesday (local time) that the number of publicly traded companies holding Bitcoin has surged to 172, rising by nearly 40% in just three months.

· Total value surpasses 118.4 billion dollars

According to data from Bitcoin Treasuries, as of September 30, these companies held a total of over 1.02 million Bitcoins, valued at approximately $117 billion at that time. In the following two weeks, this figure further rose to 10.2 thousand Bitcoins and $118.4 billion.

· Aggressive accumulation strategy

Data shows that publicly listed companies are the "most aggressive accumulators," adding over 193,000 Bitcoins to their balance sheets this quarter, achieving a quarter-on-quarter rise of 20.68%. This growth rate significantly outpaces other sectors such as private companies (growth of 2.21%) and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) (growth of 6.7%).

· Strategic Transformation: Core Financial Reserves

Gracy Chen, CEO of a leading CEX, pointed out: "We are seeing a wave of publicly listed and private companies increasing their Bitcoin holdings, which is part of a broader strategic transformation." She stated that for many companies, this is not only a tool to hedge against inflation but also a long-term bet on digital assets as a core financial reserve.

Strong Institutional Inflows: Regulatory Improvements and Continued ETF Momentum

The key factors driving the acceleration of corporate accumulation in this round are the gradual improvement of the regulatory environment and the strong inflow of digital asset investment products.

· A large influx of funds into digital asset investment products

The latest CoinShares report shows that digital asset investment products saw a total inflow of $3.17 billion last week, with Bitcoin leading the way at $2.67 billion. This brings the total inflow for the year to a record $48.7 billion.

· Favorable catalysts of the regulatory environment

Gracy Chen attributed the accelerated accumulation of enterprises to the supportive regulatory environment, such as the approval of the U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve and the SEC's general listing standards for commodity trust shares.

· Accumulation Drive: Digital Asset Financial Department

Peter Chung, the head of Presto Research, explained that this accumulation is primarily driven by the digital asset finance department. The reason for the existence of these departments is to acquire crypto assets, and the funding comes from securities issued in the public market.

· Long-term vision: not affected by geopolitical influences

Unlike retail traders who focus on short-term returns, institutional investors take a long-term investment perspective. Analysts told Decrypt that ongoing geopolitical tensions, such as the trade war between China and the United States, are unlikely to affect the decisions of these institutional investors.

Technical Outlook: "Recalibration" and the $160,000 Target

Despite the recent market sell-off and fluctuations, analysts believe that this has not shaken the long-term bullish foundation of Bitcoin.

· The market fluctuation is a "recalibration".

Analysts have characterized the recent sell-off as a "recalibration" driven by geopolitical tensions, rather than a failure of potential bullish fundamentals. This suggests that the long-term accumulation trend remains intact.

· Corporate giants continue to lead the way

In terms of corporate holdings, Strategy continues to lead with a holding of 640031 Bitcoins, while newcomers like Metaplanet more than doubled their holdings this quarter.

· Fourth quarter target of 160,000 USD

Looking ahead, Gracy Chen expects that the continued inflow of ETFs and broader balance sheet adoption could drive Bitcoin towards $160,000 in the fourth quarter.

Conclusion

The record accumulation of Bitcoin by listed companies is a strong recognition of digital assets as a core reserve value. Against the backdrop of a gradually opening regulatory environment and sustained high institutional interest, corporate giants are strategically increasing their holdings during the recent market correction. Although they still need to cope with macro and geopolitical risks in the short term, this solid institutional foundation provides robust support for the long-term bullish narrative of Bitcoin. The market will closely watch whether this wave of institutional accumulation can, as expected, drive Bitcoin to challenge a new high of 160,000 USD before the end of the year.

This article is news information and does not constitute any investment advice. The cryptocurrency market is highly volatile, and investors should make decisions cautiously.