Healthcare tech firm Semler buys 871 Bitcoin, yield tops 150%

Healthcare tech and software firm Semler Scientific said that it purchased more than $88 million worth of Bitcoin over the past few weeks and was holding a paper gain of over 150%.

Semler said in a Feb. 4 press release that it purchased 871 Bitcoin (BTC) between Jan. 11 and Feb. 3 for $88.5 million, at an average purchase price of $101,616 per BTC. 

It also reported an aggregate yield of 152% from July 1 — the first full quarter after it adopted its Bitcoin treasury strategy — to Feb. 3. It noted its yield so far this year was 22%.

As of Feb. 3, Semler held 3,192 BTC, which were acquired for an aggregate of $280 million at an average purchase price of $87,854 per coin. The investment is worth around $313 million at current market prices. 

Semler funded its crypto investment with a senior convertible notes offering and monetization of a portion of its minority investment in Monarch Medical Technologies.

On Jan. 23, Semler announced plans to raise $75 million through the private offering of convertible senior notes for its Bitcoin strategy.

“We are thrilled with the progress we are making in growing our Bitcoin stockpile,” said Semler Scientific chairman Eric Semler, adding that Semler was “pleased to have monetized a part of our investment in Monarch Medical in order to buy more Bitcoin.”

The latest figures from Semler make it the 10th-largest corporate holder of BTC, according to Bitcoin Treasuries. 

Related: MicroStrategy halted Bitcoin purchases, says it will hodl $30B BTC

In November, Semler Scientific CEO Doug Murphy-Chutorian said the firm remained “laser-focused” on acquiring and holding Bitcoin. 

Meanwhile, on Feb. 3, the world’s largest corporate holder of BTC, MicroStrategy, halted its purchases, stating that it will hold its stash of 471,107 BTC, currently worth around $46 billion.

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