Blockchain firm BTCS soars on retail rush for bitcoin dividends

A representation of the virtual cryptocurrency Bitcoin is seen in this picture illustration taken October 19, 2021. REUTERS/Edgar Su

Jan 13 (Reuters) – Shares in blockchain technology-focused firm BTCS Inc (BTCS.O) rocketed on Thursday, set to extend a four-day rally, as more retail investors scooped them up after the company last week offered to pay dividends in bitcoin.

The Silver Spring, Maryland-based company has seen its stock value more than double since Jan. 5, when it proposed to pay $0.05 per share in bitcoin to those who opt for it. Its first bitcoin dividend, or “bividend” as the company calls it, is due on March 16.

Shares of BTCS climbed 31.5% to a six-week high of $8.86 in premarket trading on Thursday as the online buzz over its plan grew in forums such as Reddit and stocktwits.com, which were instrumental in the “meme stock” frenzy last year.

Nearly 5 million BTCS shares changed hands, more than the company’s public float of 4.2 million shares. A smaller number of free float shares makes the stock vulnerable to sharp moves.

“This is a moment we have long anticipated since the Company purchased the domain, bividend.com, in February 2015,” CEO Charles Allen said in a statement last Wednesday.

BTCS, last valued at $69 million, claims to be the first Nasdaq-listed firm to offer dividends in bitcoin. Video game retailer GameStop (GME.N) on Friday jumped as much as 22% on plans to launch a division to develop a marketplace for nonfungible tokens (NFTs). read more

Meanwhile, prices of highly-volatile cryptocurrencies have tumbled since hitting all-time highs late last year. Bitcoin was last trading at $43,876.67 on Thursday, about 36% below its peak.

Reporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Ramakrishnan M.

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