Altvest to change its name to The African Bitcoin Corporation - Stafford Masie — Altvest chairman and self-proclaimed “bitcoin maximalist” Stafford Masie

Johannesburg-listed investment holding company Altvest Capital is changing its name to Africa Bitcoin Corporation as it doubles down on its strategy of building a bitcoin treasury, seeking to emulate the success of US-listed Strategy (previously MicroStrategy).

In a small first move, Altvest in February acquired 1.00464 bitcoin for R1.81-million as part of what it described as its “long-term treasury management strategy”.

“Building on its initial BTC (bitcoin) acquisition, the board of directors of Altvest is pleased to announce the formal adoption of its bitcoin treasury strategy, in terms of which the company will accumulate and hold BTC to preserve value, hedge against inflation and increase long-term shareholder exposure to BTC’s potential upside,” the company said in a statement to investors via the JSE on Monday.

“The board is of the view that this strategic shift, which will position Altvest as Africa’s first bitcoin treasury company, will offer its shareholders long-term value anchored in a resilient and globally liquid asset.”

It noted that the JSE doesn’t currently offer a regulatory framework to regulate listed companies investing in crypto assets. “Once such a regulatory framework has been put in place by the JSE, the company undertakes to adhere thereto.”

Bitcoin treasury

Altvest will now embark on “various capital-raising initiatives” to raise funds to acquire bitcoin for its treasury.

In a separate statement to investors on Monday, it said it is launcing an equity capital raise through the allotment and issue of up to a million Altvest at up to R11/share. The equity raise will be offered to South African investors only and will be implemented by way of an offer which opens with immediate effect and which “may close at any time”.

The change of the name to Africa Bitcoin Corporation is subject to shareholder approval. A circular was issued to shareholders on Monday providing information about the name change and updated strategy. If all goes according to plan, the name will be changed on 12 November.

The move by Altvest to build a bitcoin treasury emulates the decision by Strategy CEO Michael Saylor a number of years ago to invest significant capital buying bitcoin for the company’s treasury. According to a recent regulatory filing, Strategy now holds 636 505 bitcoins in its treasury worth a staggering US$70.8-billion at the time of writing.

Altvest’s share price was trading 2.1% lower at 9.40am in Johannesburg on Monday, giving the company a market capitalisation of R52.8-million. The business is led by CEO Warren Wheatley and chairman Stafford Masie.