VanEck’s MSTR Gamble: Bill Bryson Would Be Confused… But Also Amused 😂

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Matthew Sigel sweeps in like a caffeine-deprived superhero to save MicroStrategy from the clutches of journalistic chaos-yes, the NYT might’ve slipped on its own banana peel.

So there we were, minding our own business, sipping lukewarm coffee and pretending to understand Bitcoin, when-BAM!-the New York Times drops a quote so out of context it might as well have been translated via carrier pigeon. The quote? From Jan van Eck himself: “We’ve stayed away… It’s just publicity.” Sounds damning, right? Like VanEck was sidestepping MicroStrategy (MSTR) like it was a questionable street taco.

But wait. Plot twist: that quote wasn’t about MSTR at all. It was about VanEck’s own internal policies. Which means the Times accidentally built an entire narrative on a misunderstanding so profound, it’d make a Google Translate argument look coherent. 🤦‍♂️

Sigel Steps In, Mic Drop Ensues

Enter Matthew Sigel, VanEck’s head of digital asset research and probably the only person who reads SEC filings for fun. He didn’t even need a cape. He just calmly-okay, maybe a little sarcastically-jumped on social media and said, in essence: “Um, guys? You’re wrong. And also, we doubled down. Oops.”

Because here’s the kicker: while the Times was busy implying VanEck was cold-shouldering MSTR, VanEck was, in fact, buying MSTR shares like they were on Black Friday sale.

The failing New York Times tried to run a hit piece on MicroStrategy this morning. Unfortunately for their readers, they yanked ‘s quote wildly out of context. When he said “we’ve stayed away,” he was just talking about not turning VanEck into a MicroStrategy-style…

– matthew sigel, recovering CFA (@matthew_sigel)

“Failing New York Times”? Oh, it’s on. 🍿

VanEck Didn’t Just Stay-They Brought Snacks

Turns out, VanEck didn’t just maintain its position in MSTR. It boosted it. We’re talking 284,000 shares now. That’s like owning a small island in the Bitcoin archipelago. Or at least enough to be invited to the cool shareholder meetings.

They’re not just holding common stock, either. No, no. They’ve also scooped up preferred shares tied directly to MSTR’s Bitcoin-backed balance sheet. That’s the financial equivalent of getting front-row seats while also owning a piece of the concert’s sound system.

Why? Because Sigel and crew actually believe in the strategy. While the rest of us are still trying to explain Bitcoin to our dads (“It’s like money, but… digital?”), VanEck is quietly building a fortress made of cryptographic bricks.

SEC Filings: Because Trust, But Verify

And before you go thinking this is all smoke and moon talk, the 13F filings are here to put on their sensible shoes and confirm: yes, VanEck still holds MSTR. Yes, they’ve increased exposure. No, they did not accidentally sell everything due to a typo. (Though let’s be honest, that would’ve made for a better drama series.)

The preferred shares pay fixed cash distributions, which is a fancy way of saying: “Here’s your cut, now please stop calling.” This structure lets VanEck have its Bitcoin cake and eat it too-well, metaphorically. We don’t know what they actually eat. Maybe kale. They seem like kale people.

One thing’s clear: despite the Times fumble, VanEck is still all in. The firm’s confidence hasn’t wavered. If anything, it’s enjoying the confusion like a parent watching kids argue over who turned off the Wi-Fi.

Related Reading: VanEck 2026 Q1 Outlook: Risk-On Markets Put Bitcoin and Crypto Back in Focus

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2026-01-18 14:14