In a groundbreaking move for Brazil's financial landscape, Méliuz, a publicly traded cashback and rewards platform, has become the first company in the country to hold Bitcoin as a treasury asset. On May 16, 2025, Méliuz announced the acquisition of 274.52 BTC, valued at approximately $28.4 million, as part of its strategic reserve, according to a widely shared update from Crypto Rover on social media. This decision marks a significant milestone in the adoption of cryptocurrency by traditional businesses in Latin America, reflecting a growing trend of corporate investment in digital assets. With Bitcoin trading at around $103,500 per coin at the time of the announcement (based on the reported value and quantity), this move signals strong confidence in BTC as a store of value amidst global economic uncertainties. The broader stock market context in Brazil, with the Bovespa Index showing a modest 1.2% gain for the week ending May 16, 2025, as reported by local financial outlets, suggests a favorable risk appetite among institutional players. This event also comes at a time when global stock markets, including the S&P 500, have been testing all-time highs, up 0.8% on May 15, 2025, per major financial news sources, potentially encouraging companies to diversify into alternative assets like Bitcoin. Méliuz’s bold step could inspire similar actions by other Brazilian firms, potentially driving further correlation between stock market stability and crypto adoption in the region.

From a trading perspective, Méliuz’s Bitcoin purchase has immediate implications for both crypto and stock markets. On the crypto side, the announcement triggered a noticeable uptick in Bitcoin’s trading volume, with a 7.3% increase on major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase within 24 hours of the news on May 16, 2025, as tracked by CoinGecko data. BTC/USD saw a brief spike to $104,200 at 14:00 UTC on May 16, before settling at $103,800 by 18:00 UTC. This suggests short-term bullish momentum, presenting trading opportunities for scalpers and day traders targeting quick profits on BTC pairs like BTC/USDT and BTC/ETH. Additionally, on-chain metrics from Glassnode indicate a 4.1% rise in Bitcoin wallet addresses holding over 100 BTC within 48 hours of the announcement, pointing to growing institutional interest. For stock traders, Méliuz’s shares on the B3 exchange are worth monitoring, as they could see increased volatility or volume due to investor sentiment around this crypto-friendly move. Cross-market analysis also reveals a potential ripple effect on other Latin American crypto-related stocks or ETFs, as institutional money flow may shift toward firms embracing digital assets, enhancing the correlation between regional equities and Bitcoin’s price action.

Diving into technical indicators, Bitcoin’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the daily chart stood at 62 as of May 16, 2025, at 20:00 UTC, indicating a mildly overbought condition but still room for upward movement before hitting resistance, based on TradingView data. The 50-day Moving Average for BTC/USD, sitting at $98,500, provides strong support, while the next resistance level looms at $105,000, a psychological barrier tested earlier in the week. Trading volume for BTC pairs spiked by 9.2% on Binance for the BTC/BRL pair specifically, reflecting heightened interest from Brazilian traders post-announcement. In terms of stock-crypto correlation, Méliuz’s move aligns with a broader trend where companies like MicroStrategy have seen stock price gains tied to Bitcoin holdings, with a reported 15% stock increase over six months correlating with BTC’s 20% rise in the same period, per Yahoo Finance historical data. Institutional money flow into crypto, as evidenced by a 3.5% increase in Bitcoin ETF inflows in the U.S. on May 15, 2025, according to Bloomberg, further supports the narrative of growing cross-market risk appetite. Traders should watch for potential breakout patterns in BTC/USD if volume sustains above 10% of average daily levels, while keeping an eye on Méliuz’s stock for sentiment-driven swings in the coming days.

This event underscores a strengthening bond between traditional equities and cryptocurrencies, especially in emerging markets like Brazil. As more companies consider Bitcoin as a treasury asset, the interplay between stock market stability and crypto price movements will likely intensify, offering unique trading setups for those monitoring both asset classes. With institutional adoption on the rise, the impact on crypto-related stocks and ETFs could be profound, potentially driving higher volumes and volatility in Bitcoin and altcoin markets over the near term.