From Vapes to Crypto: Strategic Pivot Spurs Investor Excitement
CEA Industries has made headlines with a bold strategic shift, as its subsidiary BNC (formerly VAPE) transitions from the nicotine vape business to a crypto-focused treasury model. This pivot centers around Binance Coin (BNB), with BNC acquiring 200,000 BNB tokens for $160 million through its dedicated treasury arm, BNB Network Company.
The move positions BNC as the largest publicly listed holder of Binance Coin, signaling growing corporate interest in digital assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. The rebranding from VAPE to BNC reflects the company’s commitment to this new direction, aligning its identity with Binance Coin’s ecosystem.
The company’s recent success in raising $500 million in private capital has further strengthened its ability to execute this vision. The funding round was led by 10X Capital and YZi Labs, the latter founded by Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, adding credibility to BNC’s crypto ambitions.
BNC Eyes $1.25 Billion in BNB Holdings to Boost Institutional Adoption
Currently, Binance Coin trades at $820.5, making it the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. BNC highlighted several bullish indicators for BNB, including its deflationary token burn mechanism, increasing on-chain activity, and potential upside from a spot ETF approval in the U.S.
With $160 million already deployed, BNC plans to continue purchasing BNB using the remainder of its initial treasury allocation. The company may invest up to an additional $750 million via a warrant structure, which could bring total BNB holdings to $1.25 billion.
The goal? To help foster institutional adoption of BNB within the United States and position BNC as a key player in the evolving Web3 ecosystem.
Investor enthusiasm has been strong. Shares of CEA Industries closed at $17.10 last Friday—up 92% since announcing its pivot to BNB. This surge underscores growing confidence in altcoin-focused treasury strategies among public companies.
As BNC continues to build its crypto portfolio, the market will be watching closely to see how traditional firms reshape themselves around blockchain assets—and whether this bold bet on BNB pays off.
