Crypto Journalist

Anas Hassan

Crypto Journalist

Anas Hassan

About Author

Anas is a crypto native journalist and SEO writer with over five years of writing experience covering blockchain, crypto, DeFi, and emerging tech.

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Last updated: 

September 12, 2025

Smarter Web Company is exploring acquisitions of distressed competitors to acquire their Bitcoin holdings at discount prices.

According to a Financial Times report, the UK’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder with over £200 million in crypto reserves made the revelation despite its shares plummeting 73% from their mid-June peak.

Founder Andrew Webley told the publication that “there’s one that’s very attractive, there’s one that I’ve got my sights on at the moment,“ though he declined to name the acquisition target.

The Bristol-based firm would “certainly consider” snapping up other companies for their Bitcoin at a discount, Webley explained, as some crypto treasury companies now trade below the value of their Bitcoin holdings.

Strategic Accumulation Amid Market Turbulence

Smarter Web has undergone a dramatic transformation from its origins as a website design business, pivoting heavily toward Bitcoin accumulation throughout 2025 under what the company calls “The 10 Year Plan.”

The firm currently holds 2,470 Bitcoin worth approximately £200 million, having crossed the 2,000 BTC milestone in July after purchasing 225 additional coins for £19.9 million.

This aggressive strategy has generated what the company describes as a 49,198% year-to-date Bitcoin yield, positioning Smarter Web among the top 25 global corporate Bitcoin holders despite maintaining just £500,000 in remaining treasury cash.

The company’s accumulation efforts have been financed through innovative debt structures, including the UK’s first Bitcoin-denominated convertible bond worth $21 million issued to Paris-based TOBAM in August.

Unlike traditional convertible bonds, this structure denominates the principal repayment amount in Bitcoin while keeping the conversion share price fixed at £2.05, representing a 5% premium to the stock’s closing price at the time.

Webley acknowledged the dramatic valuation swings, telling the publication that “we probably got overvalued and now we’re almost certainly undervalued,” while expressing concern for shareholders who have experienced the volatility.

Despite the share price correction, the company briefly achieved a £1 billion market capitalization over the summer and has gained approximately 150% year-to-date, outperforming all but one company in the FTSE 350.

The firm appointed Albert Soleiman, former CFO of trading group CMC Markets, as chief financial officer last week as it pursues institutional investor interest and FTSE 100 ambitions.

UK Treasury Company Wave Meets Market Skepticism

Smarter Web’s acquisition strategy emerges within a broader wave of UK-listed companies adopting Bitcoin treasury models, with at least nine firms announcing similar strategy in recent months.

These companies have followed the playbook pioneered by Saylor’s MicroStrategy, which has accumulated over 638,460 BTC and achieved a market capitalization exceeding $90 billion since first purchasing the cryptocurrency in 2020.

The UK movement includes firms ranging from AI services provider Tao Alpha, which disclosed plans to raise £100 million for Bitcoin purchases, to natural resources company Panther Metals, whose shares surged 81% after buying a single Bitcoin.

However, market analysts have raised concerns about the sustainability and strategic clarity of the crypto treasury trend as hundreds of companies worldwide race to accumulate digital assets.

Eric Benoist, tech and data research specialist at Natixis CIB, warned that “the story is starting to become less attractive to mainstream investors,” noting that “there’s still no clear end game to this strategy.”

The broader corporate Bitcoin treasury movement has seen over 325 entities accumulate 3.71 million Bitcoin collectively, as per BitcoinTreasuries data, even though some industry observers question whether the market has reached saturation.

Galaxy Digital’s Michael Novogratz had previously suggested that the market may have reached “peak treasury company issuance,” while VanEck’s Matthew Sigel warned that companies issuing shares near their Bitcoin net asset value risk creating “erosion” rather than capital formation.

If executed well, Smarter Web’s acquisition strategy could bring a new paradigm in the space, potentially allowing successful treasury companies to consolidate Bitcoin holdings from struggling competitors at favorable valuations.

The approach mirrors historical debt-financed asset acquisition strategies, where savvy investors have borrowed in depreciating currencies to purchase scarce assets during market downturns.

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Dogecoin has reached a new milestone with the number of wallets on the network hitting a new all-time high (ATH). Despite this bullish development, the DOGE price continues to struggle, which has raised concerns among community members. 

Dogecoin Wallets Hit New ATH But Price Continues To Struggle

In an X post, crypto analyst Ali Martinez revealed that the total number of Dogecoin wallets has hit a new all-time high of 83.48 million. This is bullish for DOGE as it indicates that more users are actively using the network, and the foremost meme coin. An increase in Dogecoin’s utility tends to lead to higher prices for the meme coin. 

However, in this case, the Dogecoin price is struggling despite the network’s addresses hitting a new ATH. DOGE is currently below the psychological $0.20 price level, having steadily declined from a local high of $0.46 achieved in December. As Bitcoinist recently reported, Dogecoin’s price decline is due to external factors rather than its fundamentals.  

The ongoing trade war between the US and other countries like Canada, Mexico, and China has sparked a bearish sentiment among investors and negatively impacted Dogecoin and other crypto assets. Moreover, the US has continued to create uncertainty in the market by going back and forth on what tariffs it is choosing to impose on these countries. 

Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve maintains a hawkish stance, reducing the likelihood of the Fed cutting interest rates this year. This is also bearish for Dogecoin and continues to impact its price. Investors are unlikely to allocate much capital to the meme coin and other risk assets without assurances of a rate cut this year. 

DOGE At Risk Of Dropping To As Low As $0.15

In an X post, Ali Martinez warned that the Dogecoin price could drop to as low as $0.15 if it breaks below the $0.19 support level. He explained that since 2014, DOGE has been trading within an ascending channel and has tended to rebound from the channel’s lower support trendline to the upper resistance trendline. 

However, crypto analyst Trader Tardigrade suggested that the Dogecoin price could break out to the upside rather than suffering a break below $0.19. In an X post, he stated that DOGE’s Average Directional Index (ADX) indicates a potential surge ahead. His accompanying chart showed that the foremost meme coin could rally to $2.8 when this surge happens. 

Meanwhile, amid this market downtrend, crypto analyst Kevin Capital has indicated that now might be a good time to accumulate Dogecoin.  He pointed out DOGE’s weekly Relative Strength Index (RSI), which is currently oversold. As such, the meme coin could soon rebound from its current price level. 

At the time of writing, the DOGE price is trading at around $0.19, down over 8% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from Tradingview.com

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Recent research has highlighted the state of payment experiences in the financial services industry, with the sector encountering substantial gaps that threaten customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The Payment Experience Index, developed by payment solutions experts Access PaySuite, part of The Access Group, analysed 160 businesses across 16 sectors using TrustPilot data, calculating a Trust Discrepancy Score for each sector to highlight which are excelling and which are struggling to meet consumer expectations.

It identified the financial services industry as one with a moderate Trust Discrepancy Score of 24.2. While not among the best-performing sectors, the findings indicate opportunities for businesses to enhance their payment processes and strengthen customer loyalty.

As consumer expectations evolve, businesses in the financial services industry face increasing pressure to offer seamless and reliable payment solutions. While the sector is performing better than some of its peers, outdated systems and limited payment options may be hindering its ability to fully meet customer needs.

* The Trust Discrepancy Score quantifies the gap between how customers rate a business overall and how they specifically rate its payment processes. A smaller score signals better alignment with customer expectations. 

Commenting on the findings, Dave Carr, transformation director at Access PaySuite, said:

“In 2025, the sectors leading in payment experiences will be those that prioritise seamless, secure, and customer-centric solutions. Our Payment Experience Index demonstrates that businesses embracing innovation in payment technologies are not only meeting customer expectations but redefining them. This is about more than just enabling transactions – it’s about creating a smooth, transparent, and reliable experience that builds trust and fosters loyalty.

“Industries that adapt to evolving consumer demands for flexibility, personalisation, and speed are positioning themselves as leaders in their fields. Conversely, those that fail to modernise their payment systems risk eroding customer satisfaction and falling behind competitors. At Access PaySuite, we believe that seamless payment experiences are the cornerstone of exceptional customer journeys, and we’re committed to helping businesses unlock their full potential through smarter, more intuitive payment solutions.”

For more information, you can view the full research here https://www.accesspaysuite.com/blog/which-sectors-offer-the-best-payment-experiences/