As the world’s largest corporates have been slowly turning to Bitcoin in recent times, a lesser-known but financially strong healthtech company, Semler Scientific, has joined the list. The company has started converting a portion of its treasury reserves into Bitcoin since mid-2024. Many see this move as a groundbreaking decision.
Who is Semler Scientific?
Semler Scientific Inc. is an American health-tech company that primarily develops heart and vascular disease screening products and technologies. Their most popular product is QuantaFlo® — a non-invasive testing system that helps detect Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD).
Semler works primarily with health insurance companies, and billions of patients have benefited from their technology. That is, it is a profitable and capital-rich company.
Investing in Bitcoin: A Sudden Decision?
No, this is not an immediate decision. In mid-2024, Semler Scientific announced that it would add Bitcoin to its balance sheet, just like MicroStrategy, Tesla, or Block Inc. did.
The company’s CEO said in a statement:
“We believe Bitcoin is a strong, inflation-protected, long-term asset. It is a safe hedge for the future.”
Shortly after this announcement, the company bought $40 million worth of Bitcoin and said that it would gradually increase this investment in the future.
Why Bitcoin?
According to Semler Scientific, Bitcoin is a digital asset that:
✅ Limited supply (21 million units)
✅ Not controlled by any central authority
✅ Safe from inflation in the long term
✅ Growing acceptance among the younger generation
✅ Institutions consider it a Treasury asset
Also, the ongoing uncertainty in the US economy and the impact of Federal Reserve policy also played a role in their decision.
Impact on the stock market
After news of Semler’s investment in Bitcoin was released, the company’s share price rose by about 20%. Many investors and analysts believe that the move will further strengthen the company’s financial defenses, and that it is a strategic investment for the future.
While some investors are concerned about the volatility of Bitcoin’s price, Semler is steadfast in their decision and says that they do not see Bitcoin as a short-term gain, but as a long-term asset.
Is Semler like other companies?
MicroStrategy is a pioneer in corporate holdings in Bitcoin. In their view, Bitcoin is “Digital Gold”. Many other mid-sized companies are now considering treasury investments in Bitcoin, following Semler Scientific’s lead.
The difference, however, is that Semler is a healthtech company—and Bitcoin has no direct connection to their core business. Yet they believe it is a timely decision for future financial security.
Health tech and crypto together?
No one once imagined that a healthcare company would get involved in blockchain or Bitcoin. But Semler has shattered that notion. As a result, we may see more health-tech or biotech companies investing in Bitcoin or other digital assets in the coming days.
This presents a new vision for the future of corporate reserve management.
Risks and Future Perspectives
✅ Prospects: If the price of Bitcoin increases, Semler’s treasury value will increase many times over.
❌ Risks: Bitcoin’s price is volatile. A sudden large drop could have an impact on the company’s balance sheet.
Although Semler said that they view the investment as a “Non-Core Treasury Strategy”, it is still a bold move.
Conclusion
Semler Scientific’s investment in Bitcoin proves that not only tech or fintech companies but also health technology companies are now considering digital assets as part of their financial strategies.
This is an example that shows that the definition of corporate finance will change in the coming days. Bitcoin is not just a currency, but now it is becoming a Trustworthy Corporate Asset.
Semler’s decision may inspire other companies in the future.