Unlike Strategy, Marathon Digital isn’t just buying Bitcoin via exchange or OTC; it is also minting BTC through mining. With a massive hash rate of around 53 exahashes per second, Marathon’s operation can generate a substantial flow of new coins monthly. Today, the company holds over 46,000 BTC in its reserves, marking another company following the “Bitcoin as treasury” playbook.

Buy why does the mining operation matter? Because it allows Marathon to acquire coins at a cost below market value. Of course, that only works as long as Bitcoin’s price stays high enough to cover electricity and overheads. With BTC cruising above $80,000, the strategy is paying off handsomely. If Bitcoin retreats, Marathon’s profits will surely follow. The most significant difficulty for MARA is keeping up with energy costs, environmental scrutiny, and the relentless competition from other miners ramping up their hash rates.

Today, MARA owns the second-largest Bitcoin treasury in the world, second only to MSTR. Moreover, with over 90% of the stock price reflected in BTC book value, investors appear to be getting the mining business at a steep discount.

Nine analysts offer price targets on MARA stock via TipRanks, and the stock carries a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on four Buy and five Hold ratings over the past three months. MARA’s average price target of $23 per share implies ~ an 84% upside over the next twelve months, mirroring MSTR’s potential.

Riot Platforms joined the treasury strategy a bit later than the others but did it with flair. Last December, the company raised $525 million via convertible bonds and bought 5,000 BTC at about $100,000 each, lifting its holdings to roughly 15,019 BTC. Riot unlocked so much value through this move and attracted so much investor interest that the stock somehow outpaced both MARA and MSTR, rocketing over 550% last year. Since the beginning of this year, the Bitcoin buying spree has continued, with 18,692 BTC on the balance sheet today, making Riot the world’s third-largest Bitcoin treasury company. So far this year, the stock is down 24%.

To provide some context about the mining business, Riot’s hash rate hovers around 31.5 exahashes per second, lower than MARA’s, but it’s still substantial. Like any other mining business, the real challenge is juggling debt if Bitcoin’s price dips. Mining is capital-intensive, so borrowing can accelerate expansion but also magnify risks.

I like Riot’s approach of diversifying its operations slightly, leveraging its massive Texas mining facilities while exploring energy credits and grid balancing to manage costs. So far, so good. Yet, with around 59% of the stock price being backed by BTC, there is also a meaningful margin of safety when it comes to Riot’s investment case.

Every analyst covering RIOT stock is bullish. RIOT carries a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 11 unanimous Buy ratings over the past three months. RIOT’s average price target of $18.05 per share implies a 132% upside potential over the next twelve months.

The Bitcoin treasury strategy has turned MSTR, MARA, and RIOT stocks into high-risk, high-reward Bitcoin plays. Such plays amplify gains when the king of crypto surges and expose them to the downside if the market retreats. The investment case for any of these pioneering Bitcoin strategy stocks all comes down to whether you believe in Bitcoin’s long-term prospects. If you are a BTC bull like I am, all three stocks present significant upside because they are essentially leveraged plays on BTC. Then again, if you’re bearish on Bitcoin, they also offer compelling short opportunities.

For the time being, Strategy is the Bitcoin king, given its $73 billion market cap, early-mover advantage, and BTC war chest. However, one could argue that RIOT is the maestro of the three, given its Texas mining angle and diversification measures that somewhat mitigate the inherent risk in any crypto stock.

The alpha here is the extreme volatility and elevated options premiums, which create substantial profit potential for those who position themselves wisely. Personally, I’ve taken a bullish stance by owning MSTR and selling puts as a hedge. One thing is certain: if you’re risk-averse or uncomfortable with volatility, these stocks are not for you.

Disclosure

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