Prenetics Global Limited, the health sciences firm co-founded with David Beckham, halted Bitcoin purchases and will not acquire more in 2026. The company ended daily Bitcoin buying in December 2025 while retaining existing holdings, reflecting reassessment among public companies following Bitcoin's late-2025 decline.
What Happened: Firm Ends Purchases
Prenetics confirmed it stopped daily Bitcoin acquisitions in December 2025 and will not pursue additional purchases in 2026, though it will maintain current holdings.
The health sciences firm, which operates IM8, a premium health brand co-founded with Beckham, shifted focus toward operating expansion rather than balance-sheet crypto exposure.
The decision followed Bitcoin's sharp November and December 2025 decline, which pressured companies using treasury strategies for crypto exposure.
MicroStrategy stock fell more than 60% over six months, amplifying Bitcoin's downturn and highlighting structural risks in equity-funded crypto strategies.
Also Read: Jesse Eckel Forecasts Bitcoin Will Peak Between $170K And $250K During 2026
Why It Matters: Balance-Sheet Risk
Equity-funded Bitcoin strategies can magnify losses during downturns through leverage, dilution and shifting investor sentiment, turning operating companies into high-beta crypto proxies.
Boards must justify capital allocation to shareholders who may prefer predictable cash deployment over exposure to cyclical assets, carrying reputational and governance risks for non-crypto firms. IM8's revenue growth shifted Prenetics' risk-reward calculus, prompting containment of balance-sheet risk while maintaining optionality through existing holdings.
Read Next: US Banks' Push To Ban Stablecoin Interest May Give China Competitive Edge, Coinbase Executive Says