Prenetics Abandons Bitcoin Treasury Strategy After Beckham-Backed Push

Source: DefiPlanet Original Title: Prenetics Scraps Bitcoin Strategy, Ends Beckham Nutrition Crypto Pus Original Link: https://defi-planet.com/2025/12/prenetics-scraps-bitcoin-strategy-ends-beckham-nutrition-crypto-pus/

Quick Breakdown

• Prenetics halts Bitcoin purchases, sells holdings after $10M investment.
• David Beckham’s nutrition brand IM8 sparked the treasury shift in May 2025.
• Firm cites volatility risks, returns to core health tech operations.

Prenetics Technologies, the Hong Kong-listed health tech firm, has reversed its aggressive Bitcoin treasury strategy. The company announced it will cease further BTC acquisitions and liquidate existing holdings. This decision follows a $10 million Bitcoin purchase in May 2025, driven by celebrity endorsement from David Beckham.

The pivot came after Beckham’s IM8 Health launched, positioning crypto as its treasury asset. Prenetics allocated 10% of its cash reserves to Bitcoin, aiming to hedge against inflation and attract Web3 investors. However, sustained market turbulence eroded gains, prompting the board to prioritize stability.

Bitcoin Treasury Trend Faces Headwinds

Corporate Bitcoin adoption surged in 2025, with firms like MicroStrategy holding billions in Bitcoin. Prenetics joined late, buying 112 BTC at an average of $89,000 per coin. Yet, BTC dipped below $80,000 amid regulatory scrutiny from U.S. SEC probes and global tax reforms.

Beckham’s involvement amplified hype. IM8, his functional nutrition brand, marketed Bitcoin reserves as innovative. Prenetics CEO Danny Yeung touted it as “future-proofing” during an investor call. Now, the unwind signals caution for celebrity-driven crypto treasuries.

Health tech peers like Teladoc avoided crypto entirely. Prenetics stock fell 15% post-announcement, reflecting investor unease. The firm plans to reinvest proceeds into AI diagnostics and gene testing, its pre-crypto focus.

Regulatory and Market Pressures Mount

While Prenetics’ treasury exit underscores Bitcoin’s volatility risk for non-native firms, some industry leaders argue crypto networks ultimately strengthen financial resilience via stablecoins. Prenetics faced margin calls on leveraged positions. Q3 earnings showed $2.5 million unrealized losses. Analysts note that 60% of surveyed execs reconsidered their BTC holdings after the 2025 20% correction. The move underscores risks for non-native crypto firms. MicroStrategy thrives with a $40 billion BTC stack, but Prenetics lacked expertise in derivatives. Future treasuries may favour diversified baskets including ETH, stablecoins. Beckham retains IM8 stake, but nutrition sales disappointed. Prenetics eyes partnerships with blockchain-based health DAOs for recovery.