Finance1 min read

Index Provider MSCI Removes Strategy From Equity Benchmark

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The exclusion from benchmarks like the MSCI USA Index jeopardizes Strategy's established playbook of selling common and preferred shares to finance digital asset acquisitions. Executive chairman Michael Saylor, who has overseen the purchase of more than $60 billion in Bitcoin since mid-2020, criticized the policy as a prejudicial value judgment against digital assets. The company had already anticipated the move in an October quarterly report, yet its stock fell nearly 2% in after-hours trading following the formal announcement.

Key points

  • New MSCI framework rules excluding non-operating businesses will officially take effect a…: New MSCI framework rules excluding non-operating businesses will officially take effect at the close of November 30.
  • Additional exclusions by other index providers could trigger an estimated $8.8 billion in…: Additional exclusions by other index providers could trigger an estimated $8.8 billion in further secondary stock sales.
  • Strategy's reliance on equity offerings to fund digital token purchases faces growing pre…: Strategy's reliance on equity offerings to fund digital token purchases faces growing pressure from benchmark gatekeepers.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

MSCI Inc. has dropped Strategy Inc. from its global equity benchmarks, potentially triggering billions of dollars in stock sales and adding fresh pressure to the financing model behind Michael Saylor’s vast Bitcoin holdings.

Strategy is among the firms that the major index provider is removing its MSCI USA Index after it adopted new eligibility rules, according to results of the November 2026 Index Review for the MSCI Equity Indexes released Wednesday. Last month, MSCI said it would exclude companies classified as non-operating businesses under a new framework that takes effect at the close of Nov. 30.

Strategy has said it expects the firm’s class A common stock to be excluded from the MSCI Indexes as part of the review, according to the quarterly report in late October. Strategy didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

Shares of Strategy fell almost 2% in after-hours trading. The stock is down almost 20% this year. Bitcoin has dropped around 15% during the same period.

The exclusion can add more stress to the Bitcoin accumulating model in which the firm sells a variety…

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