Key Takeaways:
- AIMCo, Canada’s $195B asset manager, bought 1.38 million MSTR shares worth $219M in its first bitcoin-linked bet.
- Canada’s top institutions, including RBC and CPPIB, now hold Strategy Inc. stakes worth hundreds of millions each.
- Strategy Inc. holds 818,334 BTC, making MSTR a preferred proxy for pension funds avoiding direct crypto custody.
AIMCo Buys 1.38M Strategy Inc. Shares in $219M Bitcoin Proxy Bet
AIMCo, formally known as the Alberta Investment Management Corporation, acquired approximately 1.38 million shares of Strategy Inc., the company formerly known as Microstrategy and traded under the ticker MSTR. The Edmonton-based manager oversees roughly CAD $194.7 billion in assets on behalf of provincial pension plans, endowments, and government accounts, including the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund.
The disclosure surfaced on social media on April 30, 2026. No official press release from AIMCo has been issued. The data stems from a regulatory filing tied to the institutional ownership of U.S.-listed securities.
Strategy Inc. holds 818,334 bitcoin, making it the largest corporate bitcoin holder in the world. The company has accumulated BTC since 2020 through equity offerings, preferred shares, and debt. Its stock is widely treated as a leveraged proxy for bitcoin because the value of its treasury drives most of MSTR’s market performance.
Canadian institutions have gravitated toward MSTR over direct bitcoin purchases or spot ETFs. Custody requirements, compliance frameworks, accounting standards, and fiduciary obligations make equity positions easier to manage within regulated fund structures.
AIMCo joins a list of major Canadian financial institutions that have already built MSTR positions. National Bank of Canada holds roughly 1.47 million shares valued near $273 million. The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board opened a position in Q3 2025 with 393,322 shares.
The Royal Bank of Canada has been expanding its holdings, with reports placing its position in the $230 million range. The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan holds a smaller stake worth approximately $31 million. The scale of participation across Canadian institutions points to a shared conclusion: MSTR offers bitcoin exposure that fits within existing investment mandates.
Critics have raised concerns about using pension funds for this type of position. MSTR shares carry higher volatility than direct bitcoin, and ongoing capital raises through equity offerings can dilute bitcoin-per-share ratios over time. During bitcoin downturns, MSTR has historically seen steeper declines than BTC itself.
Still, the AIMCo purchase shows that even conservative sovereign-style funds are finding a place for bitcoin-linked equity in their portfolios. MSTR shares saw modest pre-market movement following the news on April 30. Bitcoin markets were also active at the time of the disclosure. The filing, while not yet officially confirmed by AIMCo, aligns with standard quarterly ownership reporting windows for U.S.-listed securities.
Institutional demand for MSTR continues to grow as bitcoin holds relevance at the portfolio level among funds that once avoided the asset class entirely. The AIMCo position, at $219 million, places it among the larger disclosed MSTR stakes held by Canadian institutions, behind National Bank of Canada and roughly in line with Royal Bank of Canada’s reported holdings.
Whether AIMCo expands the position in coming quarters will likely depend on bitcoin price performance and how MSTR’s treasury strategy evolves. MSTR is up 0.75% at the start of today’s trading session, but down nearly 10% over the last five trading sessions.
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