German Public Company Eyes 50 Million Euro Raise to Back SQD AI and Blockchain Play

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In a bold move signaling growing institutional confidence in blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) convergence, Heidelberger Beteiligungsholding AG—a publicly traded company on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange—has announced a strategic pivot toward acquiring and supporting SQD, the native token of Subquid, a decentralized data infrastructure platform. The firm plans to raise up to 50 million euros in its 2025 fiscal year to purchase, hold, and stake SQD tokens, fueling speculation and sending the token’s price surging nearly 20% within 24 hours. With this shift, the company also intends to rebrand as SQD.AI Strategies AG, positioning itself as Germany’s first publicly listed firm dedicated to crypto asset accumulation.

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A Strategic Pivot Toward Web3 and AI Infrastructure

Headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, Heidelberger Beteiligungsholding AG has historically focused on traditional financial assets such as equities and bonds. However, the company is now undergoing a transformative strategy to become a pioneer in crypto-native investment vehicles. Its new direction centers on long-term accumulation and staking of SQD tokens, with an explicit focus on supporting the growth of the Subquid network—an emerging player in decentralized data indexing and querying for Web3 and AI applications.

This rebranding to SQD.AI Strategies AG reflects more than just a name change—it's a declaration of intent. By aligning its corporate identity with the SQD ecosystem, the company aims to offer shareholders direct exposure to the rapidly evolving intersection of blockchain and artificial intelligence.

To fund this initiative, the company has canceled its previously announced 700 million euro stock buyback program and redirected capital toward SQD acquisition. During the transition phase, dividend payouts will be temporarily reduced to 10% of net profits, with plans to restore them to 40–50% by 2026. Management forecasts that these strategic moves will drive over 20% growth in earnings per share (EPS) and achieve a 19% return on tangible equity (ROTE) by 2026.

Subquid: Powering Decentralized Data for AI and Web3

At the heart of this corporate transformation lies Subquid, a decentralized data infrastructure platform designed to streamline access to blockchain data for developers, DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, and AI-driven analytics tools.

Traditional blockchain data retrieval relies heavily on centralized Remote Procedure Call (RPC) services, which are prone to latency, downtime, and data monopolization. Subquid addresses these limitations by building a distributed network that enables fast, reliable, and censorship-resistant access to on-chain information.

Using advanced indexing techniques and a global node network, Subquid delivers query responses up to 10 times faster than conventional solutions. This performance edge makes it particularly valuable for applications requiring real-time insights—such as automated trading bots, cross-chain aggregators, and AI models trained on blockchain datasets.

Funding and Tokenomics of SQD

Launched in November 2021, Subquid raised $3.8 million** in a seed round. It later conducted a public sale on CoinList in January 2024, raising an additional **$6.28 million by offering 4% of the total token supply at $0.094 per token.

The SQD token serves as the backbone of the Subquid ecosystem, used for:

Token distribution includes:

This allocation underscores strong early institutional backing while maintaining long-term sustainability through controlled releases from treasury and incentive programs.

Why Invest in SQD? The AI-Blockchain Convergence Thesis

Heidelberger Beteiligungsholding AG’s decision to back SQD is rooted in a broader vision: the convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. As AI systems demand vast, verifiable datasets, blockchains offer immutable, transparent ledgers ideal for training and auditing intelligent models.

Subquid plays a critical role here by enabling AI applications to efficiently extract structured data from multiple blockchains—something centralized databases struggle with due to fragmentation and trust issues.

Strategic Rationale Behind the Move

  1. Market Timing and Trend Alignment
    Just as MicroStrategy championed Bitcoin as a corporate treasury asset, Heidelberger Beteiligungsholding AG sees SQD as a gateway to high-growth tech infrastructure. By staking its future on SQD, it positions itself at the forefront of the decentralized AI revolution.
  2. Long-Term Financial Upside
    The planned 50 million euro raise isn’t speculative—it’s part of a calculated capital deployment strategy aimed at capturing value from Subquid’s ecosystem expansion. Staking rewards add compounding returns, while OTC purchases allow cost-effective accumulation during market dips.
  3. Institutional Validation of Crypto Assets
    This shift represents a milestone: a traditional European public company embracing crypto not as a side bet, but as a core business strategy. It may inspire similar moves across Europe’s financial landscape.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is Subquid?
A: Subquid is a decentralized data infrastructure platform that enables fast and efficient querying of blockchain data for Web3 apps, DeFi protocols, and AI systems.

Q: Why did the German company change its name to SQD.AI Strategies AG?
A: The rebrand reflects its strategic commitment to the SQD ecosystem and the convergence of AI with blockchain technology, signaling a full pivot toward crypto-focused investments.

Q: How will the company raise 50 million euros?
A: The capital will be raised through equity financing during its 2025 fiscal year, replacing the canceled stock buyback plan.

Q: Is SQD similar to other indexing protocols like The Graph?
A: While both aim to index blockchain data, Subquid differentiates itself with faster query speeds (up to 10x), modular architecture, and stronger support for AI-driven analytics use cases.

Q: Can retail investors participate in this trend?
A: Yes—while Heidelberger Beteiligungsholding AG is acquiring large volumes via OTC deals, retail investors can purchase SQD tokens directly on supported exchanges.

Q: What are the risks involved in this investment strategy?
A: Key risks include volatility in SQD’s price, regulatory uncertainty around crypto holdings by public firms, and execution risk in Subquid’s technical roadmap.

The Road Ahead: Building Institutional Bridges to Web3

Heidelberger Beteiligungsholding AG’s bold move could mark the beginning of a new era where traditional finance institutions actively integrate crypto assets into their core strategies—not just for diversification, but as foundational components of next-generation digital economies.

With Subquid providing essential infrastructure for AI-powered blockchain analysis, and SQD serving as both utility and value-capturing token, this partnership between legacy capital markets and cutting-edge Web3 innovation exemplifies how convergence drives progress.

As more enterprises evaluate blockchain not just as a technology but as an investment class, expect increased adoption of token reserves, staking strategies, and rebranded corporate identities aligned with decentralized ecosystems.

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