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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements and the related notes of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of financial position and results of operations have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, unless otherwise disclosed.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Since the merger between Strive Enterprises, Inc. and Asset Entities has been determined to be a reverse acquisition, with SEI being the accounting acquirer, the Company determined that SEI is the Predecessor and Strive, Inc. is the Successor. The financial information as of December 31, 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2024 and period from January 1, 2025 to September 11, 2025 reflect the historical financial information of the Predecessor and are referred to as the "Predecessor Periods". The financial information as of December 31, 2025 and for the period from September 12, 2025 to December 31, 2025 reflect the financial information of Strive, Inc. and are referred to as the "Successor Periods".
Use of estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management of the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reporting amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Due to uncertainties in the estimation process, actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reverse stock split
On February 6, 2026, the Company amended its articles of incorporation in order to effect a 1-for-20 reverse stock split of its outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock. As a result of the reverse stock split, every 20 shares of the Company’s Class A and Class B common stock issued or outstanding were automatically reclassified into one new share of Class A or Class B common stock, respectively, without any action on the part of the holders. Concurrently with the reverse stock split, the number of shares of Class A common stock available to purchase and the related exercise price of outstanding warrants were adjusted pro-rata to give effect to the reverse stock split. All historical share and per-share amounts of the Successor reflected throughout the accompanying consolidated financial statements and other financial information in this Annual Report have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split as if the split occurred as of the earliest Successor period presented. The reverse stock split did not affect the par value of the Class A and Class B common stock. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split.
Business combinations
In accordance with ASC Topic 805 “Business Combinations", acquired assets and liabilities assumed as part of a business acquisition are generally recorded at their fair value at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is calculated as the amount by which the purchase consideration exceeds the net identifiable assets acquired.
Determining the fair value of identifiable assets, particularly intangibles, and liabilities acquired also requires management to make estimates, which are based on all available information and in some cases assumptions with respect to the timing and amount of future revenues and expenses associated with an asset.
Cash and cash equivalents
Short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash is held with major financial institutions and may at times exceed federally insured limits. As of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company did not have any restricted cash.
Short-term investments
Short-term investments have maturities exceeding three months and less than twelve months at the time of purchase. The Company classifies short-term investments as held-to-maturity based on the Company's intent to sell the security or, its intent and ability to hold the short-term investment to maturity. Held-to-maturity debt securities are purchased with the intent and ability to hold until maturity and are carried at amortized cost. Interest income on short-term investments is recognized using the effective interest method and included in interest and dividend income on the consolidated statements of operations.
Digital assets, at fair value
The Company accounts for its digital assets, which consist solely of bitcoin, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 350-60, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Crypto Assets. The Company has ownership of and control over its bitcoin and is engaged with multiple geographically dispersed third-party custodial services to store its bitcoin. The Company initially records its digital assets at cost, inclusive of transaction costs and fees. The Company subsequently remeasures its digital assets to fair value at the end of each reporting period in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, based on quoted (unadjusted) prices on the Coinbase exchange, which is considered a Level 1 input within the fair value hierarchy. Any changes in fair value are recognized in net income within net unrealized gain (loss) on digital assets, at fair value. Realized gains or losses are recorded upon the sale of digital assets based upon the difference between the sales price and the carrying value of the specific bitcoin sold.
Leases
The Company determines if a contract is a lease or contains a lease at inception. The Company accounts for its headquarters office lease as an operating lease, which may include escalation clauses that are based on an index or market rate. The Company accounts for lease and non-lease components, including common areas maintenance charges, as a single component for its leases. The Company elected the short-term lease exception for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less. Consequently, such leases are not recorded on the consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company’s lease terms include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain they will be exercised or not.
The Company recognizes right-of-use (“ROU”) lease assets and operating lease liabilities on the consolidated statements of financial condition based on the present value of future lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date discounted using an incremental borrowing rate (“IBR”). The IBR for individual leases is estimated considering the Company’s credit rating using various financial metrics, and, as appropriate, performing market analysis of yields on publicly traded bonds (secured and unsecured) with similar terms of comparable companies in a similar economic environment. ROU assets are tested for impairment when there is an indication that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Fixed lease payments made over the lease term are recorded as lease expense on a straight-line basis. Variable lease payments based on usage, changes in an index or market rate, are expensed as incurred.
Property and equipment
Property and equipment, consisting of hardware and equipment, furniture and fixtures, tenant improvements, and software are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. As of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company had $0.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of accumulated depreciation which is included in property and equipment, net on the consolidated statements of financial condition.
Property and equipment is tested for impairment when there is an indication that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When an asset is determined to not be recoverable, the impairment loss is measured based on the excess, if any, of the carrying value of the asset over its fair value.
Depreciation and amortization is provided for using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets as follows:
Hardware and equipment5 years
Furniture and fixtures7 years
Tenant improvements
Lesser of the remaining term or 15 years
Software3 years
Intangible assets
Intangible assets, consisting of domain names, are carried at cost less accumulated amortization. For finite-lived intangible assets, if potential impairment circumstances are considered to exist, the Company will perform a recoverability test using an undiscounted cash flow analysis. If the carrying value of the asset is determined not to be recoverable based on the undiscounted cash flow test, the difference between the carrying value of the asset and its current fair value would be recognized as an expense in the period in which the impairment occurs. Intangible assets are amortized over a period of ten years. As of both December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Company had less than $0.1 million of accumulated amortization which is included in intangible assets, net on the consolidated statements of financial condition.
Fair value measurement
The Company measures certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis. Fair value is defined as the price that is expected to be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company uses a three-level hierarchy that prioritizes fair value measurements based on the types of inputs used for the various valuation techniques. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Level 1: Quoted (unadjusted) prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are either directly or indirectly observable, such as quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3: Inputs that are generally unobservable, supported by little or no market activity, and typically reflect management's estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
The categorization of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The valuation techniques used by the Company when measuring the fair value prioritize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.
As of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the fair value of the Company's financial assets and liabilities not held at fair value on the consolidated statements of financial condition equaled the related carrying value given the short-term maturities of all.
Revenue recognition - investment advisory fees
The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies performance obligations under the terms of contracts with clients. The Company earns substantially all of its revenue from SAM investment advisory and sub-advisory contracts (collectively “Investment Advisory Fees” and “Investment Advisory Contracts”) related to its asset management services. Investment advisory fees, generally calculated as a percentage of assets under management (“AUM”), are recorded as revenue as services are performed over time because the customer is receiving and consuming the benefits as they are provided by the Company.
SAM’s investment advisory contracts have a single performance obligation because the contracted services are not separately identifiable from other obligations in the contracts and therefore, are not distinct. All performance obligations to provide investment advisory services are satisfied over time by SAM and the Company recognizes revenue through SAM as time passes.
The fees SAM receives for its services under its investment advisory contracts are based on AUM, which changes based on the value of securities held under each investment advisory contract. These fees are thereby constrained and represent
variable consideration, and they are excluded from revenue until the AUM on which SAM’s client is billed is no longer subject to market fluctuations. In addition, the Company may contract with third parties to provide advisory services on its behalf. The investment advisory contracts typically have contractual terms that extend throughout the life of the fund being advised, which generally contain provisions allowing the third party advisor to remove the Company with prior notice. Clients are typically charged monthly or quarterly, either in advance or arrears, based on the fee arrangement agreed to with each client; payment terms vary depending on the client and services offered. Based on the nature of the agreements, the performance obligations are generally satisfied throughout the contractual term.
Fund management and administration expense
Direct fund expense, which is expensed as incurred, primarily consists of third-party advisory and non-advisory expense incurred by Strive related to certain investment products, reference data for certain indices, custodial services, fund administration, fund accounting, transfer agent services, stockholder reporting services, audit and tax services as well as other fund-related expense directly attributable to the operations of Strive offerings.
Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the share-based awards. The Company recognizes share-based compensation expense for the portion of each stock award that is expected to vest over the estimated period of service and vesting. For awards that contain a performance condition, share-based compensation expense is not recorded until the achievement of the related performance condition is determined to be probable. Forfeitures are recognized as incurred. Share-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the grant.
Income taxes
The Company is a C-Corporation and is treated as a corporation for federal and state income tax purposes and all wholly owned subsidiaries are disregarded entities for tax purposes. Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The deferred income tax provision represents the change during the reporting period in the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized on the consolidated statements of operations in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized.
Management assesses the recoverability of its deferred income tax assets based upon expected future earnings, taxable income in prior carryback years, future deductibility of the asset, changes in applicable tax laws and other factors. If management determines that it is not more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will be fully recoverable in the future, a valuation allowance will be established for the difference between the asset balance and the amount expected to be recoverable in the future. This allowance will result in additional income tax expense. Further, the Company records its income taxes receivable and payable based upon its estimated income tax position.
Earnings per share ("EPS")
Basic net income (loss) per common share is determined by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding and assumed outstanding common stock during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per common share is determined by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of Class A and Class B common stock and potential shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders is computed by deducting the dividends declared in the period on the Company’s preferred stock, if any, from net income (loss). The impact from potential shares of common stock on the diluted earnings per share calculation are included when dilutive. Potential shares of Class A common stock consisting of shares underlying employee share awards and outstanding warrants are computed using the treasury stock method. Potentially dilutive shares are only included in the amount of dilutive shares if their impact results in dilution to net income (loss) per share.
The Company's common stock consists of two classes of common stock, Class A and Class B. Holders of Class A common stock generally have the same rights, including rights to dividends, as holders of Class B common stock, except that holders of Class A common stock have one vote per share while holders of Class B common stock have ten votes per share. Each share of Class B common stock is convertible at any time, at the option of the holder, into one share of Class A
common stock. As such, basic and fully diluted earnings per share for Class A common stock and for Class B common stock are the same. The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on either Class A or Class B common stock.
Accounting standards adopted
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), which requires incremental disclosures about reportable segments but does not change the definition of a segment or the guidance for determining reportable segments. The new guidance requires disclosure of significant segment expenses that are (1) regularly provided to (or easily computed from information regularly provided to) the chief operating decision maker ("CODM") and (2) included in the reported measure of segment profit or loss. The new standard also requires companies to disclose the title and position of the individual (or the name of the committee) identified as the CODM, allows companies to disclose multiple measures of segment profit or loss if those measures are used to assess performance and allocate resources, and is applicable to companies with a single reportable segment. The Company adopted the disclosure requirements of ASU 2023-07 during the year ended December 31, 2024.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09: Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures ("ASU 2023-09") that requires entities to disclose additional information about federal, state, and foreign income taxes primarily related to the income tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. The new standard also eliminates certain existing disclosure requirements related to uncertain tax positions and unrecognized deferred tax liabilities. The Company adopted the requirements of ASU 2023-09 during the year ended December 31, 2025.
In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2023-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Crypto Assets (Subtopic 350-60): Accounting for and Disclosure of Crypto Assets (“ASU 2023-08”). ASU 2023-08 requires in-scope crypto assets (including the Company's bitcoin holdings) to be measured at fair value in the consolidated statement of financial position, with gains and losses from changes in the fair value of such crypto assets recognized in net income each reporting period. ASU 2023-08 also requires certain interim and annual disclosures for crypto assets within the scope of the standard. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2025 on a prospective basis. Given the Company did not hold any in-scope digital assets prior to January 1, 2025, there was no cumulative-effect adjustment as a result of the adoption of ASU 2023-08.
Accounting standards not yet adopted
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses ("ASU 2024-03"), which requires entities to disaggregate in a tabular presentation disclosures about specific types of expenses included in the expense captions presented on the face of the income statement, as well as disclosures about selling expenses. Specifically, ASU 2024-03 requires disaggregation of expense captions that include any of the following natural expenses: (1) purchases of inventory, (2) employee compensation, (3) depreciation, (4) intangible asset amortization, and (5) depreciation, depletion, and amortization recognized as part of oil- and gas-producing activities or other types of depletion expenses. The requirements are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027 and are required to be applied prospectively with the option for retrospective application. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the additional disclosure requirements under ASU 2024-03 to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.