MSCI Proposes Screen That Could Remove Strategy, Metaplanet From Global Indexes

New MSCI Index Screen Threatens Crypto Company Inclusion

According to MSCI, a proposal under consideration would implement a new non-operating company screen that could result in the removal of Strategy and Metaplanet from its global indexes. The screening methodology would fundamentally reshape which entities qualify for inclusion in MSCI’s widely-tracked benchmark indexes that serve as reference points for institutional investors worldwide.

Index inclusion carries significant weight in investment markets. Funds and institutions frequently build portfolios around major indexes or use them as performance benchmarks. Removal from such indexes can reduce institutional visibility and potentially affect how markets value affected companies.

Operational Criteria and Index Access

The proposed non-operating company screen would evaluate whether companies meet specified operational standards for maintaining index membership. Strategy and Metaplanet would face exclusion if classified as non-operating under MSCI’s new criteria. This development reflects growing scrutiny of how traditional financial infrastructure providers assess cryptocurrency-related businesses and the standards they must satisfy.

The timing of this proposal highlights ongoing tensions between the crypto sector’s integration into mainstream finance and institutional gatekeepers’ evolving categorization frameworks. As the crypto market matures, index providers increasingly subject crypto-focused entities to the same operational reviews they apply to traditional industries.

Implications for Crypto Investment Companies

This proposal signals that companies with significant crypto exposure must navigate an expanding set of institutional requirements to maintain access to traditional financial infrastructure. The outcome extends beyond these two specific companies, potentially indicating a broader reassessment of how MSCI evaluates and classifies cryptocurrency-related businesses within its index ecosystem.

For Strategy, Metaplanet, and similar entities, the ability to remain in major indexes influences their appeal to institutional capital and market perception. Index removal decisions, while disruptive, also reflect the sector’s increasing maturity—where crypto-related companies face the same institutional scrutiny as traditional firms.

Source: MSCI, via the source. Not financial advice.