The FTSE 100 ended the week down 0.2%, despite spending much of the session in positive territory. The FTSE 250 fared better, rising 0.4% by the close.
Helium Ventures plc (AQSE: HEV), soon to be renamed VaultZ Capital plc (ticker: V3TC), has raised £4 million in an oversubscribed placing at 43p per share, ahead of its admission to the AQSE Growth Market on 26 June 2025.
From £3.7m to £1.1bn: Smarter Web Company’s Meteoric Rise on Bitcoin Bet
Just two months after its IPO, which launched with a modest £3.7 million market cap and was notably oversubscribed, Smarter Web Company has soared to a staggering £1.1 billion valuation.
Back in April, founder Webley quipped, “People might laugh when I say that.” Now, it’s unlikely many are — except perhaps Webley himself, who may soon be laughing all the way to the FTSE 100.
The company’s explosive growth hasn’t come from its core web design business, but rather from a bold pivot: positioning itself as a bitcoin treasury company. The move has resonated with investors seeking stock market exposure to crypto, driving a surge in demand and share price.
In addition, the firm has secured a deal that could unlock access to a further £80 million-plus, signalling strong investor appetite for its bitcoin treasury model.
The wave of enthusiasm for crypto-exposed stocks has also benefited smaller players in the space. Vinanz Ltd (LSE: BTC, OTCQB: VINZF) raised £3.7 million, while Helium Ventures PLC (AQSE: HEV) and Coinsilium Group Limited (AQSE: COIN, OTCQB: CINGF) each secured £4 million to strengthen their positions in the digital asset ecosystem.
These fundraises reflect a growing trend among small-cap companies leveraging bitcoin’s appeal to boost buying power and investor interest.
Typically, sizeable new share issues are followed by a period of retracement — but that hasn’t been the case for the four companies mentioned.
Vinanz was the relative laggard, yet still delivered a 46% gain. The others surged even further, each recording triple-digit advances, defying conventional market expectations and underlining the intense investor enthusiasm surrounding crypto-aligned strategies.
AI-focused business services provider Pri0r1ty Intelligence Group (LON: PR1) has unveiled a formal Bitcoin treasury management policy, sending its shares up 87.97% to 7.42p.
Under the new policy, the company may hold up to 50% of its surplus cash in Bitcoin, though it will not retain other cryptocurrencies. The move is seen as a strategic shift toward embracing digital assets as part of its capital management approach, aligning with a growing trend among small-cap tech firms tapping into crypto exposure to drive investor interest.
Orchard Funding Group (LON: ORCH) saw its share price jump 26.2% to 65p after a positive trading update triggered a second earnings upgrade in just three months. The insurance premium finance specialist has benefited from lower interest rates, which have improved margins, alongside reduced credit losses. Broker Allenby Capital raised its 2025 pre-tax profit forecast by 23% to £2.7 million, and now expects net asset value (NAV) to reach 99.1p per share by year-end.
Meanwhile, ValiRx PLC (LON: VAL) shares rebounded 22.7% to 0.675p after Ambrose Healthcare exercised its option to out-license VAL401, a novel lipid formulation with anticancer properties, from ValiSeek, in which ValiRx holds a 54.1% stake. The deal will see ValiRx receive 576,000 Ambrose shares, plus potential milestone payments of up to £16 million, along with future royalties. Ambrose will take on full responsibility for development and patent costs, de-risking the asset for ValiRx while retaining long-term upside.
Fallers of the Week: Revolution Beauty Leads Declines After Fraser’s Exit
The steepest fall of the week came from Revolution Beauty Group PLC (AIM: REVB), which plunged 41% after Frasers Group, led by Mike Ashley, withdrew from takeover talks. The cosmetics group had launched a formal sale process at the end of May following an unsolicited approach from an unnamed suitor. Year-to-date, the stock is down 72%, battered by ongoing accounting issues and boardroom disputes.
It was also a bruising week for Litigation Capital Management Ltd (AIM: LIT), which saw its shares slide 35%. The drop followed news of a court defeat in one of its backed cases and a warning of a sharp slowdown in investment returns in the second half of its financial year.
Meanwhile, Karelian Diamond Resources faced a reality check after a recent rally. The company raised just £185,000 by issuing new shares equal to 12.5% of its share capital, sending the stock down 32%. Still, investors who bought in a month ago remain up 48%, thanks to earlier gains.
CPP Group (LON: CPP) saw its shares decline 6.38% to 110p as the company pressed ahead with its strategy to pivot toward early-stage insurtech development, while divesting regional financial services operations. The group has already sold its Turkey business, with a sale of its Indian operations likely to follow. Meanwhile, Phoenix Asset Management trimmed its stake from 19.3% to 18.3%, adding to the cautious sentiment.
Elsewhere, NAHL Group (LON: NAH) fell 4.72% to 50.5p after confirming it has ended discussions over the proposed sale of its Bush & Co critical care expert witness business. Despite receiving two offers, the company said neither was compelling enough to proceed, leaving investors disappointed by the missed opportunity for a strategic reset.
