MARA CEO Urges Retail Investors to Adopt a “Buy and Hold” Bitcoin Strategy
Fred Thiel, CEO of Bitcoin mining firm MARA Holdings, advocates for a long-term investment approach to Bitcoin, encouraging retail investors to “buy and forget.” Citing Bitcoin’s historical performance, Thiel noted that the cryptocurrency has only declined in value three times over the past 14 years.
In a January 2 interview with FOX Business, Thiel emphasized Bitcoin’s consistent price growth, often averaging annual gains of 29% to 50%.
“My advice to my kids, for example, is to set aside a little each month for Bitcoin and forget about it,” Thiel explained. He believes that holding Bitcoin for several years can yield significant returns despite short-term price fluctuations.
Bitcoin’s Risk and Growth Potential
Despite Thiel’s optimism, he acknowledged Bitcoin’s inherent volatility compared to traditional financial assets. For some investors, the unpredictability of Bitcoin’s price makes an “invest-and-forget” strategy difficult. However, Thiel pointed to key factors that could support Bitcoin’s price growth in 2025, including:
- U.S. Bitcoin reserve prospects
- Increased institutional adoption via spot Bitcoin ETFs
- A more crypto-friendly regulatory landscape under the Trump administration
Community Sentiment and Adoption
Thiel’s perspective aligns with the sentiment of the broader crypto community. A recent poll conducted by Michael Saylor, executive chairman of MicroStrategy, found that 77.7% of over 65,000 respondents plan to increase their Bitcoin holdings in 2025.
MARA Holdings has also strengthened its long-term Bitcoin strategy. In July, the firm adopted a policy to hold all Bitcoin it mines rather than selling it, mirroring MicroStrategy’s approach. MARA currently holds 44,394 Bitcoin—valued at $4.3 billion—making it the second-largest Bitcoin holder among publicly traded companies, after MicroStrategy’s 446,400 BTC.
MARA’s Bitcoin holdings surged by 192.5% in 2024, rising from 15,174 BTC to its current total. This increase coincided with Bitcoin’s 120% price appreciation over the year, reflecting both the company’s growing reserves and the crypto’s robust price performance.
A Bullish Outlook for 2025
Thiel’s bullish stance reinforces the growing sentiment that Bitcoin remains a promising long-term investment. With institutional interest rising and regulatory developments on the horizon, market analysts and investors alike continue to watch for new milestones in Bitcoin’s price and adoption.
