Bold Brew: Spanish Coffee Chain Vanadi Commits $1.17 Billion to Bitcoin
Summary: Vanadi Coffee, a small Spanish café chain, has approved a bold plan to invest up to €1 billion ($1.17 billion) in Bitcoin. The move, backed by shareholders on June 29, positions the Alicante-based company as Spain’s largest corporate holder of the cryptocurrency and signals a dramatic pivot in treasury strategy.
A Bold Treasury Shift
Vanadi Coffee’s board and shareholders have signed off on a transformative policy: making Bitcoin its primary reserve asset. According to a regulatory filing with BME Growth, the company plans to accumulate substantial BTC holdings alongside its retail coffee operations.
With this move, Vanadi aims to follow in the footsteps of firms like MicroStrategy and Japan’s Metaplanet, both known for their aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategies. The decision marks a significant divergence from conventional treasury management for a consumer-facing brand.
SPANISH COFFEE CHAIN PLANS TO BECOME SPAIN’S BIGGEST BITCOIN TREASURY WITH $1B+
– Vanadi Coffee, a small Spanish café chain, approved a plan to invest nearly $1.17 billion in Bitcoin.
– The move, greenlit by shareholders on June 29, pushes the Alicante-based firm into the… pic.twitter.com/i9Cs4NYqlY
— BSCN (@BSCNews) June 30, 2025
Early Bitcoin Purchases and Surging Stock
Initial activity suggests Vanadi has already begun implementing its strategy. The company has reportedly acquired 54 BTC, currently valued at around €5.8 million. Investors reacted sharply, sending Vanadi’s stock price soaring over threefold in June following the announcement.
This enthusiasm reflects growing investor interest in companies integrating Bitcoin into their balance sheets, particularly amid global uncertainty and inflation concerns.
Struggles in Core Coffee Business
Despite its crypto ambitions, Vanadi’s core business faces significant challenges. Operating only six locations in the Alicante region, the company reported a €3.3 million operating loss in 2024—an increase of nearly 16% year-over-year—largely due to rising input costs and intensifying local competition.
The company previously declined a €50 million acquisition offer and has been in discussions with Alpha Blue Ocean about a potential €1.5 billion investment fund targeted at select firms.
Concerns Over Expertise and Volatility
Analysts have raised questions about the decision, noting that managing a Bitcoin-heavy treasury requires specialized financial expertise and risk management. Vanadi’s leadership has limited experience in digital assets, which may heighten exposure to market volatility.
Spanish regulators remain cautious on crypto activity. Missteps—or dramatic market swings—could expose Vanadi to compliance issues or capital strain, especially given its small operational scale.
High-Stakes Strategy or Speculative Overreach?
Globally, several high-profile companies—from Tesla to Square—have dabbled with Bitcoin investments. However, Vanadi’s case is particularly striking because its crypto reserves could soon exceed all other components of its balance sheet.
While a Bitcoin bull market could yield outsized returns, a downturn risks amplifying the company’s existing financial stresses. Investors are split: some view the move as visionary, others caution against overreach.
Vanadi’s foray into Bitcoin underscores the growing acceptance of crypto as a corporate asset class. Yet it also highlights the tension between innovation and operational fundamentals. For now, the company’s bold bet has earned it global headlines—and a seat in the high-stakes world of Bitcoin-financed businesses.
Featured image from Unsplash; chart via TradingView