PANews reported on June 15th, citing The Block, that Strive's Chief Investment Officer, Ben Werkman, stated that a prolonged period of low Bitcoin prices will increase pressure on Bitcoin finance companies reliant on convertible bond financing. Some companies may be forced to sell BTC to maintain operations or repay debt, triggering mergers, asset sales, and restructuring. Werkman noted that Strive has chosen to avoid convertible bond pressure by financing solely through equity and has acquired peer Semler Scientific as a case study of industry consolidation. He pointed out that some companies are proactively reducing debt and adjusting their balance sheets, and anticipates more mergers and restructuring in the future to cope with continued market weakness and rating agencies' conservative assessment of Bitcoin's asset value.