Shares of Twenty One Capital, a newly formed cryptocurrency treasury company in the United States, fell sharply during its debut trading session. The company, which merged with the blank-check firm Cantor Equity Partners, experienced a 20% decline on its first day, highlighting the volatile reception to crypto-focused public offerings amid fluctuating market conditions.
Trading commenced at $10.74, below the prior close of $14.27 for Cantor’s special purpose acquisition company. By the close on Wednesday, Twenty One Capital settled at $11.42, representing nearly a 20% drop over 24 hours, though it recovered slightly after-hours to $11.67. The company now boasts a market cap of approximately $4 billion based on its outstanding shares.
The company’s listing had been highly anticipated this year, backed by heavyweight investors such as stablecoin issuer Tether, crypto exchange Bitfinex, SoftBank Group, and notable industry executive Jack Mallers, founder and CEO of Strike, who was appointed as Twenty One’s chief executive. The firm holds an impressive portfolio of over 43,500 Bitcoin, valued at more than $4 billion, making it the third-largest Bitcoin holder among publicly traded companies, according to BitcoinTreasuries.NET.
Clarifying the Company’s Future Operations
Despite the impressive Bitcoin holdings, Twenty One has not publicly disclosed detailed operational plans or a timeline for launching specific business initiatives. CEO Jack Mallers emphasized that the company is “not a treasury,” clarifying that its valuation should not be solely based on its Bitcoin assets. “We don’t want the market to think of us as just a treasury asset,” Mallers stated in an interview with CNBC. “We are building a business.”
He further elaborated that the company is exploring multiple revenue-generating avenues such as brokerage services, exchanges, credit, and lending platforms. While specifics remain under wraps, Mallers indicated these initiatives are likely to be announced sooner than later, aiming to integrate Bitcoin portfolios into broader operational streams that generate cash flow.
The rise of crypto treasury companies has been notable this year, with many adopting a strategy centered around accumulating and holding cryptocurrencies while raising capital for additional purchases. This model gained popularity as Bitcoin’s price surged to record levels in October but has recently faced headwinds amid broader market declines, which have adversely affected the valuations of these companies.
While market sentiment for crypto treasury firms has soured amid recent downward trends, Mallers expressed confidence that his firm’s strategy—focusing heavily on Bitcoin and leveraging Tether’s backing—will help sustain investor interest. He emphasized a vision centered on capitalizing on Bitcoin’s potential, viewing it as “the forest through the trees” in a landscape where few players are deeply committed to this core asset class.