UK’s Smarter Web Company Boosts Bitcoin Holdings to Over 500 BTC Amid Bold Treasury Strategy

The Smarter Web Company, a UK-based web design and digital services firm turned bitcoin-focused treasury player, announced on Tuesday it had added nearly $20 million in bitcoin to its reserves—bringing its total holdings to more than 543 BTC.

The firm, listed on the Aquis Stock Exchange under ticker SWC, disclosed the purchase of 196.9 BTC for £15.2 million ($20.3 million) at an average price of £77,122 ($103,290) per bitcoin. With this latest acquisition, the company’s total bitcoin investment now stands at £42.4 million ($56.8 million), with an average cost basis of £77,988 ($104,450) per coin.

While still providing web design, development, and hosting services, The Smarter Web Company has rapidly shifted toward a bitcoin treasury strategy, part of a long-term plan to grow shareholder value and hedge against traditional currency risks.

From Modest IPO to Billion-Pound Breakout

The company, which began trading publicly in April via a reverse takeover, has experienced an extraordinary surge in valuation. After announcing its bitcoin treasury pivot, shares skyrocketed nearly 20,000%, briefly pushing its market cap above £1 billion ($1.4 billion)—a figure that temporarily eclipsed the value of some well-known UK firms, including Aston Martin.

However, after the initial euphoria, the stock retraced nearly 50% on Tuesday, reflecting the volatile nature of investor sentiment around corporate crypto strategies. Even so, The Smarter Web Company remains the largest firm listed on Aquis, where fewer than 100 small- to mid-cap companies trade with a total market value under £5 billion.

For context, if listed on the London Stock Exchange, the company’s valuation would place it comfortably within the top half of the FTSE 250, which tracks the UK’s 101st to 350th largest publicly traded firms.

Backed by Bitcoin Heavyweights

The firm’s bold strategy is being guided by UTXO Management, the bitcoin-focused advisory outfit led by David Bailey, who also serves as CEO of Bitcoin Magazine and founder of Nakamoto. Bailey and Tyler Evans, UTXO’s CIO, both sit on the company’s board, and UTXO was an early investor pre-IPO.

This alignment connects The Smarter Web Company with a broader movement of firms building corporate treasuries around bitcoin. UTXO Management also advises Japan’s Metaplanet and France’s The Blockchain Group, and recently helped Nakamoto raise its own bitcoin holdings target to $763 million.

Risks and Regulation

Despite the enthusiasm, not everyone is convinced. The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has flagged bitcoin as a high-risk asset, and critics have raised concerns about the systemic implications of leveraged crypto accumulation by corporations.

David Duong, Head of Institutional Research at Coinbase, warned recently that such strategies—if widespread and highly leveraged—could eventually pose financial stability risks.

“It’s manageable now,” Duong noted, “but worth watching.”

Still, The Smarter Web Company remains optimistic. Its 10-Year Plan outlines continued growth through bitcoin acquisitions, organic business expansion, and strategic M&A. Since accepting bitcoin payments in 2023, the company has presented itself as a hybrid model: part digital agency, part digital asset investor.