Key Highlights
- Alberta Investment Management Corporation purchased $219 million worth of Strategy Inc. (MSTR) shares.
- Strategy holds over 818,000 BTC, making it a major proxy for institutional Bitcoin exposure.
- Alberta’s allocation may encourage other sovereign and pension funds to explore similar strategies.
Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), one of Canada’s largest institutional investors owned by the provincial government, has disclosed its first Bitcoin-related allocation by buying 1.38 million shares of Strategy Inc. (MSTR) worth $219 million.
The filing, unveiled on April 29, 2026, marks Alberta’s entry into Bitcoin exposure through one of the largest corporate holders of the asset. The stake indicates the fund’s first reported exposure to Bitcoin and represents growing use of MSTR as a proxy for Bitcoin.
Michael Saylor’s Strategy has been actively accumulating Bitcoin, with a total hoard of more than 818,000 BTC by the end of April 2026. Compared to acquiring BTC directly or through BTC ETFs, buying shares of MSTR gives AIMCo greater leverage on the Bitcoin price while remaining within the traditional stock market.
This approach may be more suitable for pension or sovereign funds that face constraints around holding digital assets directly. The investment aligns with a broader trend of institutional interest in Bitcoin-linked equities.
The National Bank of Canada also holds a significant position in MSTR, valued at around $273 million, indicating growing participation by Canadian institutions in Bitcoin-related stocks.
MSTR stock performance
Following the disclosure, shares of Strategy Inc. (MSTR) surged over 5.1% on Thursday, trading around $166 at the time of writing. The stock opened at $161.67, hitting a daily high of $166.66 and a low of $159, with volume exceeding 8 million shares.
Over the past month, the stock has shown volatility but gained around 37%, reflecting movements in Bitcoin’s price and continued accumulation by the company.
With a market capitalization of around $58.3 billion and a 52-week range between $104.17 and $457.22, MSTR remains closely connected to Bitcoin price trends. Upcoming earnings in Q1 2026 on May 5 are projected to record a per-share loss of $3.41 on revenues of $124.6 million.
Canada’s stance on crypto
Canada has taken an active approach to the crypto sector, balancing adoption with regulatory oversight. Alongside institutional participation, the federal government has also proposed measures to address risks.
In its Spring Economic Update dated April 28, 2026, the government proposed a potential ban on crypto ATMs, citing concerns about fraud and illicit activity. Officials noted that these machines are often used in scams and money laundering operations.
Canada currently has more than 4,000 crypto ATMs, one of the highest per capita globally, many of which operate under general money services regulations. According to data from the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, a significant portion of suspicious activity reports is linked to such machines. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne previously stated that the government is reviewing the issue closely.
Changing institutional approach
AIMCo’s allocation highlights a shift in how traditional asset managers approach crypto exposure. While direct investment in digital assets remains limited for some institutions, equity-based exposure offers an alternative within existing regulatory frameworks.
The move may influence similar strategies among other asset managers globally, as institutional participation in Bitcoin-related markets continues to develop.
Also Read: KuCoin Adds Tokenized U.S. Stocks to Web3 Wallet via Ondo Integration
