Jim Chanos shorting Strategy while backing Bitcoin raises red flags on crypto stocks

• Strategy holds over 568,840 BTC, worth more than $58B.
• Chanos warns that speculation has inflated Strategy’s share price.
• Other firms may follow Strategy’s Bitcoin-buying model.

Legendary short-seller Jim Chanos, known for exposing the Enron scandal in the early 2000s, has once again stirred the investment world—this time with a bold stance on the cryptocurrency market.

Speaking at the 2025 Sohn Investment Conference, Chanos revealed he is shorting Strategy while taking a long position on Bitcoin.

The move signals concern over growing speculation in crypto-linked stocks, particularly where company valuations have become disconnected from the underlying assets they hold.

Chanos targets valuation gap between Strategy and BTC

Chanos, founder of Kynikos Associates and one of Wall Street’s most respected sceptics, explained his strategy by comparing Strategy’s stock price with its Bitcoin reserves.

According to him, while Bitcoin remains undervalued based on its long-term fundamentals, Strategy’s stock has rallied far beyond the fair market value of its holdings.

Strategy currently owns more than 568,840 BTC, with an estimated market value of over $58 billion. This represents nearly 2.7% of Bitcoin’s entire supply.

The company, under CEO Michael Saylor, added 122,000 BTC in 2025 alone and has positioned itself as a leader among public firms embracing digital assets.

However, Chanos warned that this aggressive accumulation strategy has created a valuation mismatch.

Market speculation drives Strategy stock

Chanos argues that Strategy is not a pure Bitcoin proxy, despite its large crypto reserves.

Instead, it is a company that has leaned heavily into Bitcoin without generating comparable business growth from its core operations.

He cautioned that retail investors often misunderstand this distinction, bidding up the company’s stock as if it were a direct substitute for owning Bitcoin.

This, according to Chanos, creates a bubble-like situation where Strategy shares become speculative vehicles rather than reflections of operational performance.

He emphasised that while Bitcoin remains a promising asset in the long run, investing in a company whose share price is inflated by hype rather than fundamentals could lead to steep losses when market sentiment shifts.

Bitcoin accumulation trend could backfire

The concern extends beyond Strategy. Chanos warned that other companies might begin mimicking its strategy, accumulating large amounts of Bitcoin in a bid to capture investor attention.

Some firms may view Bitcoin hoarding as a shortcut to higher valuations, especially if they lack strong revenue streams elsewhere.

This could set a dangerous precedent. According to Chanos, once the novelty wears off or Bitcoin’s price stalls, these companies could face pressure from shareholders, reduced liquidity, or even write-downs if their BTC holdings lose value.

He urged investors to differentiate between holding the asset itself and investing in a stock that simply owns the asset, especially when the latter commands a premium.

Implications for crypto investors and public companies

The move by Chanos underscores the broader risk in the crypto-equity space.

While Bitcoin has become a core asset for many retail and institutional investors, its influence on public company valuations is still subject to volatility, sentiment, and hype cycles.

For investors, this is a cautionary tale: just because a company owns a valuable asset doesn’t mean its stock price accurately reflects that value.

Chanos’ strategy—long Bitcoin, short Strategy—may represent a shift toward more disciplined crypto investing, where underlying fundamentals matter more than momentum.

As Bitcoin adoption continues to grow, scrutiny of how public companies deploy the asset will likely intensify.

With figures like Chanos entering the debate, the market may soon draw sharper lines between speculative plays and genuine long-term bets on digital assets.