David Beckham’s Health Sciences Firm Halts Bitcoin Purchases by 2026

Prenetics Global Limited, the health sciences company associated with David Beckham, has announced it will cease its Bitcoin purchases by 2026. This decision represents a significant departure from the corporate strategy of accumulating Bitcoin that had gained popularity in earlier market phases.

Key Takeaways:

Prenetics Global Limited will stop buying Bitcoin by 2026, shifting focus away from corporate treasury Bitcoin strategies.
The company's decision to halt daily Bitcoin purchases started in December 2025 amidst a significant decline in Bitcoin prices.
Public firms, particularly MicroStrategy, have faced challenges as their stock prices drop significantly compared to Bitcoin during bear markets.
The volatility associated with Bitcoin can pose governance and reputational risks for non-crypto firms.
Prenetics' choice reflects a desire to reduce risks tied to cryptocurrency while keeping the benefits of current holdings.

The firm confirmed that it halted daily Bitcoin transactions in December 2025 and will not seek to acquire more in the future. While Prenetics will keep its current Bitcoin assets, this strategic change indicates a broader reevaluation occurring among public companies following Bitcoin’s downturn at the end of 2025.

Public Companies Reconsidering Bitcoin Amid Bear Market

The dramatic drop in Bitcoin prices during November and December 2025 significantly impacted businesses that used their balance sheets to gain exposure to cryptocurrency. This pressure was particularly pronounced for MicroStrategy, whose stock price declined significantly more than Bitcoin itself during this market correction.

This trend illuminated a fundamental risk: Bitcoin strategies funded by equity can exacerbate losses during market downturns due to factors such as leverage, dilution, and changes in investor sentiment. As Bitcoin fell, the share price of MicroStrategy mirrored this decline, plummeting over 60% in six months. This situation raised concerns that using company treasury funds for Bitcoin investments could turn regular firms into risky crypto proxies.

MicroStrategy Share Prices Over the Past 6 Months. Source: Google Finance

For companies outside of the crypto sector, such volatility poses risks related to reputation and governance. Boards of directors must justify their capital allocation choices to investors who might prefer stable cash usage compared to the unpredictable nature of a cyclical asset like Bitcoin.

In this context, Prenetics' choice seems less about completely abandoning Bitcoin and more focused on mitigating balance-sheet risks.

Prenetics is closely connected to Beckham through IM8, its high-end health and longevity brand that he co-founded. The rapid revenue growth of IM8 has shifted the company’s risk-reward balance towards operational expansion rather than financial maneuvers involving cryptocurrency.

By stopping future Bitcoin acquisitions, Prenetics aims to lower its vulnerability to fluctuations in the crypto market while maintaining the potential of its existing holdings.

Prenetics Share Prices in 2025. Source: Google Finance

This strategic move highlights a broader decline in corporate interest in Bitcoin. As demonstrated by the stress in late 2025 markets, while Bitcoin treasuries can enhance returns during bullish cycles, they can also bring significant risks during market corrections.