Core Insights - The advice to "just buy an ETF" reflects growing frustration with Digital Asset Treasuries (DAT), which have not delivered on their promise to outperform Bitcoin through innovative financing and balance-sheet strategies [1][2]. Performance Comparison - Bitcoin has increased by approximately 23% this year, while most DATs, including MicroStrategy, Semler Scientific, GameStop, and Trump Media, have significantly underperformed both Bitcoin and related ETFs [2][3]. - Only a few companies, such as Twenty One Capital and Japan's Metaplanet, have managed to outperform Bitcoin, indicating a significant gap in performance [2][3]. Structural Weaknesses - The fundamental weakness of the DAT model lies in its reliance on leverage and operational alpha, which has not translated into superior performance compared to direct Bitcoin exposure [3]. - The effectiveness of leveraging strategies is contingent on favorable conditions in equity, convertible, and debt markets, raising concerns about the sustainability of companies like MicroStrategy with substantial debt [4]. Industry Warnings - Warnings from firms like Galaxy Digital highlight that the entire DAT structure relies on a consistent premium to net asset value, drawing parallels to historical investment trust bubbles [6]. - Criticism from NYDIG points out that the commonly used "mNAV" metric may obscure liabilities and inflate perceived value by assuming unrealized debt conversions [6]. Corporate Bitcoin Adoption - Despite the challenges faced by DATs, corporate adoption of Bitcoin is accelerating, with nearly 40% more public companies holding Bitcoin compared to three months ago, according to Bitwise data [7]. - Companies like Coinbase and Bullish hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets due to their industry nature, while others use it as a hedge against fiat currency instability [8]. Differentiation of DATs - It is crucial to distinguish between DATs that hold Bitcoin and those that invest in proof-of-stake altcoins like Ethereum or Solana, as they represent different investment strategies [8]. - DATs that stake native assets and operate validators generate yield from network activity rather than leverage, potentially creating value as the underlying networks grow [9].