Hold or Fold? Strategy Stays in Nasdaq-100 Despite Looming MSCI Delisting Threat

A major investment strategy is digging in its heels, refusing to abandon its Nasdaq-100 position. But the storm clouds of an MSCI delisting haven't cleared—and the clock is ticking.

The Stubborn Hold

The move defies conventional risk-off logic. While other funds might cut and run at the first sign of index trouble, this strategy is betting its current playbook can weather the potential fallout. It's a high-stakes game of chicken with index providers.

The Looming Guillotine

MSCI's delisting criteria remain a sword of Damocles. Exclusion from a major benchmark can trigger forced selling from passive funds—a brutal, automated sell-off that cares little for fundamentals. It's the financial market's version of being voted off the island by a robot.

Playing Through the Noise

This isn't for the faint of heart. Staying put requires a conviction that the underlying assets' value outweighs the index-driven volatility. It's a deliberate bet against the herd mentality of benchmark-chasing capital—a refreshing, if risky, stance in an industry obsessed with tracking error.

One cynical finance jab? It's the ultimate test of whether a strategy has real alpha, or if its performance was just beta in a fancy Nasdaq wrapper all along.

Strategy, the company led by Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor, has successfully held its place in the Nasdaq-100 Index following the index’s annual reconstitution. 

While this strengthens its position in major markets, another key decision is still ahead, as MSCI will rule on January 15 whether to remove bitcoin-focused companies like Strategy.

Strategy Retains Nasdaq-100 Position

According to Nasdaq’s official reconstitution announcement made on Friday, the index added six new companies and removed six others, but Strategy remained unchanged. 

The update will take effect on December 22 and secures Strategy’s position in the Nasdaq-100 for another 12 months, marking a full year since it first joined the index in December 2024.

BREAKING:

STRATEGY REMAINS IN THE NASDAQ 100 INDEX ACCORDING TO REUTERS. pic.twitter.com/GMRZvSWnCU

Staying in the index means Strategy will continue to be included in major exchange-traded funds such as the Invesco QQQ, which manages tens of billions of dollars in assets.

MSCI Index Exclusion Risks Still Remains

While Nasdaq has confirmed Strategy’s place for now, another major index provider, MSCI, is considering excluding companies with more than 50% of assets in digital assets like bitcoin. A final decision is expected around January 15, 2026. 

Analysts warn that if Strategy were removed from MSCI or other key indexes, this could trigger billions in passive fund outflows, possibly forcing large selling of Strategy stock. 

However, for now, Strategy’s Nasdaq-100 retention signals growing comfort among mainstream investors with Bitcoin-linked business models

Strategy Bitcoin Will React If Strategy Delists

According to recent filings, Strategy holds a huge bitcoin treasury of 660,624 BTC worth around $60 billions, making it one of the largest corporate holders in the world. 

While Strategy posts strong profits thanks to crypto gains, including a reported $2.78 billion profit in Q3 2025 some market observers argue its business looks more like a bitcoin investment fund than a traditional tech company. 

Therefore, when Bitcoin price fall nealy 30% from its highs of $126K, Strategy’s stock slid sharply, reflecting heightened risk perception among investors. 

Despite the bullish news, Strategy Inc (MSTR) stock is down by 7% trading around $176.5