Cantor Equity Partners I Inc (CEPO)

Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company Names Bob Stefanowski as Chief Financial OfficerFebruary 24, 2026 7:06 AM
Business Wire
Senior global finance executive brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across structured finance, private credit, M&A advisory, private equity and global capital markets


Appointment strengthens best-in-class management team with deep expertise in both Bitcoin and active asset management


Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company (“BSTR” or the “Company”), an operating company dedicated to accumulating Bitcoin and providing investors exposure to Bitcoin with both yield and alpha strategies through its actively managed Bitcoin holdings, today announced the appointment of Robert “Bob” Stefanowski as Chief Financial Officer of BSTR.


Mr. Stefanowski is a respected global finance executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience across private credit, structured finance, private equity and infrastructure investing. Throughout his career, Mr. Stefanowski has served as a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chairman and lead investor, building and overseeing multi-billion-dollar lending and investment platforms for public and private institutions across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.


As CFO, Mr. Stefanowski will oversee BSTR’s capital markets strategy, financial reporting, accounting and treasury functions.


BSTR previously announced on July 17, 2025 that it entered into a definitive agreement for a proposed business combination with Cantor Equity Partners I, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEPO), a special-purpose acquisition company sponsored by an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald. Upon closing of the transaction, the Company is expected to trade under the ticker symbol “BSTR”.


“BSTR was founded to serve as the premier Bitcoin-focused public company designed to meet the evolving needs of institutional investors,” said Katherine Dowling, President of BSTR. “Bob brings unparalleled experience guiding financial strategy and capital markets execution for some of the world’s leading investment platforms. His leadership will be instrumental as we position BSTR for long-term growth and public market success.”


Mr. Stefanowski most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of NEOM USA, where he led the structuring and financing of large-scale infrastructure and project finance transactions in the Middle East, including an $8.4 billion joint venture to develop what is expected to be the world’s largest green hydrogen facility in Saudi Arabia.


Previously, Mr. Stefanowski served as Chief Financial Officer of UBS Investment Bank, where he led financial reporting, capital management and regulatory compliance for a global investment banking division operating with over $80 billion of Basel III risk-weighted assets across trading, fixed income, equities and advisory platforms. Before this, Mr. Stefanowski was CEO of a $1.3 billion consumer lending platform owned by Lone Star Capital and was Managing Director and Chairman of 3i Group plc’s international operations.


Earlier in his career, Mr. Stefanowski spent 14 years at GE Capital in multiple senior leadership roles across private credit businesses, managing multi-billion-dollar portfolios of senior loans, mezzanine debt and asset-backed securities.


“As institutional adoption of Bitcoin continues to accelerate, there is a clear need for a disciplined, transparent public company capable of allocating capital responsibly while generating yield and alpha,” said Mr. Stefanowski. “BSTR is uniquely positioned to bridge Bitcoin and capital markets at scale, and I am excited to help guide the Company through its next phase of growth.”


In addition to his executive career, Mr. Stefanowski has been active in academia and public service. He served as a Clinical Professor of Finance at Oxford University and as adjunct faculty at Cambridge University and NYU Stern School of Business. He is the author of Making M&A Deals Happen (2007) and Material Adverse Change (2017). He has participated in the World Economic Forum’s Financial Services Industry Partnership in Davos, Switzerland.


Mr. Stefanowski holds an MBA from Cornell University, a B.S. in Accounting from Fairfield University and a Fellowship in Finance from the Wharton School of Business. He is a former CPA, CFA and CFE. He previously served on the board of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London following an appointment by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and currently serves on several corporate and nonprofit boards.


About Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company (BSTR)


BSTR is a newly formed operating company focusing on business lines relating exclusively to Bitcoin. BSTR’s strategy is to offer public-market investors a differentiated, capital-efficient way to gain exposure to Bitcoin through (i) large-scale, programmatic accumulation of Bitcoin; (ii) active treasury management intended to compound Bitcoin per share over time and (iii) development and provision of services relating to Bitcoin-focused financial and technology infrastructure that we believe will expand the Bitcoin capital-markets opportunity set.


Additional Information and Where to Find It


As previously disclosed, in October 2025 BSTR and BSTR Newco, LLC (“Newco”) confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and intend to publicly file a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (as may be amended, the “Registration Statement”), which will include a preliminary proxy statement of CEPO and a prospectus (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) in connection with the business combination (the “Business Combination”), pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, dated July 16, 2025, among Pubco, CEPO, Newco and the other parties named therein (the “Business Combination Agreement”), the concurrent private placement of Pubco’s 1.00% convertible senior secured notes (the “Convertible Notes” and such private placement, together with the options to investors to purchase additional Convertible Notes and the option to purchase Pubco’s 7.00% perpetual convertible preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”), collectively, the “Convertible Notes Private Placement,”), the concurrent private placement of the Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock Private Placement”), the concurrent private placement of class A common membership interests of Newco (the “Newco Class A Interests” and such private placement, the “Newco Private Placement”), the private placement of CEPO’s Class A ordinary shares (the “CEPO Class A Ordinary Shares” and such private placement, the “CEPO Equity PIPE” and, together with the Convertible Notes Private Placement, the Preferred Stock Private Placement and the Newco Private Placement, the “Private Placement Investments”) and other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination (together with the Business Combination and the Private Placement Investments, the “Proposed Transactions”). The definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents will be mailed to shareholders of CEPO as of a record date to be established for voting on the Business Combination and other matters as will be described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. CEPO and/or Pubco will also file other documents regarding the Proposed Transactions with the SEC. This communication does not contain all of the information that should be considered concerning the Proposed Transactions and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the Proposed Transactions. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, SHAREHOLDERS OF CEPO AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE URGED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, AND THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH CEPO’S SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF ITS SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS AND OTHER MATTERS AS DESCRIBED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CEPO, NEWCO, PUBCO AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS. Investors and security holders will also be able to obtain copies of the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and all other documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by CEPO, Pubco and Newco, without charge, once available, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: Cantor Equity Partners I, Inc., 110 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022; e-mail: CantorEquityPartners@cantor.com, or upon written request to BSTR Holdings, Inc., via email at bstr@blockstreamcapitalpartners.com, respectively. In addition, further information relating to BSTR Holdings, Inc. and BSTR Newco, LLC will be made available on BSTR’s website at www.bstr.com.


NEITHER THE SEC NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AGENCY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED HEREIN, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION OR ANY RELATED PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE IN THIS COMMUNICATION. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


The Convertible Notes and shares of Preferred Stock to be issued by Pubco, the CEPO Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued by CEPO and the Newco Class A Interests to be issued by Newco, in each case, pursuant to the Private Placement Investments, as well as the non-voting units of Newco to be issued in exchange for the Newco Class A Interests at the closing of the Business Combination, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.


Participants in the Solicitation


CEPO, Pubco, Newco and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed under SEC rules to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from CEPO’s shareholders in connection with the Business Combination. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers, and information regarding their interests in the Business Combination and their ownership of CEPO’s securities are, or will be, contained in CEPO’s filings with the SEC, including CEPO’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Additional information regarding the interests of the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of CEPO’s shareholders in connection with the Proposed Transactions, including the names and interests of Newco and Pubco’s directors and executive officers, will be set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which is expected to be filed by CEPO, Pubco and Newco with the SEC. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph.


No Offer or Solicitation


The information contained in this communication is for informational purposes only and is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the Proposed Transactions and shall not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange the securities of CEPO, Pubco or Newco, or any commodity or instrument or related derivative, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom. Investors should consult with their counsel as to the applicable requirements for a purchaser to avail itself of any exemption under the Securities Act.


Forward-Looking Statements


This communication contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws with respect to the parties and the Proposed Transactions, including, expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, plans, prospects, financial results, strategies and other statements relating to CEPO, Pubco, Newco and the Proposed Transactions and statements regarding the anticipated benefits and timing of, and the occurrence of, the completion of the Proposed Transactions, the assets held by Pubco and Newco, Pubco’s listing on an applicable stock exchange, Pubco’s planned business strategy including Pubco’s ability to offer public-market investors a differentiated, capital-efficient way to gain exposure to Bitcoin, accumulate Bitcoin and compound Bitcoin per share over time and, Pubco’s yield strategies, alpha strategies and capital markets strategy, and provide Bitcoin-related services,, Pubco’s performance and market position, Pubco’s ability to serve as the premier Bitcoin-focused public company designed to meet the evolving needs of institutional investors, Pubco’s position in the Bitcoin ecosystem, any projected outcomes or expectations of crypto treasury strategies or businesses, Pubco’s plans and use of proceeds, objectives of management for future operations of Pubco, Pubco’s management and leadership after the completion of the Business Combination, the upside potential and opportunity for investors relating to participation in the Private Placement Investments or any future securities resulting from any Proposed Transactions, plans and expectations for Bitcoin adoption, value creation, investor benefits and strategic advantages, market size and growth opportunities, regulatory conditions, competitive position, future financial condition and performance and expected financial impacts of the Proposed Transactions, any expected benefits, future scaling and efficiency upgrades associated with Bitcoin and any expectations, intentions, strategies, assumptions or beliefs about future events, results of operations or performance or that do not solely relate to historical or current facts. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “strategy,” “opportunity,” “will,” “will be,” “dedicated to,” “to serve,” “designed to,” “growth,” and similar expressions.


Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events or conditions that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including, but not limited to: the risk that the Proposed Transactions may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of CEPO’s securities; the risk that the Business Combination may not be completed by CEPO’s business combination deadline or at all; the failure by the parties to the Business Combination to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Business Combination, including the approval of CEPO’s shareholders, or any of the Private Placement Investments; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transactions; the level of redemptions of CEPO’s public shareholders which may reduce the public float of, reduce the liquidity of the trading market of, and/or maintain the quotation, listing, or trading of the CEPO Class A Ordinary Shares or the Class A ordinary shares of Pubco (the “Pubco Class A Stock”); the lack of a third-party fairness opinion in determining whether or not to pursue the Business Combination; the failure of Pubco to obtain or maintain the listing of its securities any stock exchange on which Pubco Class A Stock will be listed after closing of the Business Combination; costs related to the Proposed Transactions and as a result of becoming a public company; changes in business, market, financial, political and regulatory conditions; risks relating to Pubco’s anticipated operations and business, including the highly volatile nature of the price of Bitcoin; the risk that Pubco’s stock price will be highly correlated to the price of Bitcoin and the price of Bitcoin may decrease at any time after the closing of the Proposed Transactions; risks related to increased competition in the industries in which Pubco will operate; risks relating to significant legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty regarding Bitcoin; risks relating to the treatment of crypto assets for U.S. and foreign tax purposes; risks that after consummation of the Business Combination, Pubco experiences difficulties managing its growth and expanding operations; challenges in implementing Pubco’s business plan, including Bitcoin-related advisory services and other Bitcoin-related services, due to operational challenges, significant competition and regulation; being considered to be a “shell company” by any stock exchange on which Pubco Class A Stock will be listed or by the SEC, which may impact the ability to list Pubco Class A Stock and restrict reliance on certain rules or forms in connection with the offering, sale or resale of securities; the outcome of any potential legal proceedings that may be instituted against CEPO, Pubco, Newco or others following announcement of the Business Combination; and those risk factors discussed in documents of CEPO, Pubco or Newco filed, or to be filed, with the SEC.


The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the final prospectus of CEPO dated as of January 6, 2025 and filed by CEPO with the SEC on January 7, 2025, CEPO’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q on file, and to be filed, with the SEC and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus that will be filed by Pubco and Newco, and other documents filed by CEPO, Pubco and Newco from time to time with the SEC. These filings do or will identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that none of CEPO, Pubco and Newco presently know or that none of CEPO, Pubco and Newco currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.


Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and none of CEPO, Pubco and Newco assume any obligation or intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. None of CEPO, Pubco and Newco give any assurance that any of CEPO, Pubco or Newco will achieve its expectations. The inclusion of any statement in this communication does not constitute an admission by CEPO, Pubco, Newco or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260224050748/en/
Media Contacts

Ryan Dicovitsky/Diana Bost

Dukas Linden Public Relations

BSTR@DLPR.com


Original: Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company Names Bob Stefanowski as Chief Financial Officer

https://www.facebook.com/cryptosrus/posts/new-bitcoin-standard-treasury-company-acquires-30000-btc-making-it-the-fourth-la/1327588319373000/

AI Overview

BSTR Holdings, Inc., co-founded by Adam Back, is going public through a SPAC merger with Cantor Equity Partners I, Inc. (CEPO). The combined company will be renamed BSTR Holdings and is expected to be listed on Nasdaq. This deal involves acquiring 30,000 Bitcoin, valued at roughly $3.5 billion at the time of the announcement, and potentially raising an additional $1.5 billion in fiat and Bitcoin. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Business Combination:
BSTR Holdings, also known as Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company, is merging with CEPO, a SPAC sponsored by Cantor Fitzgerald.

Bitcoin Acquisition:
The deal includes the acquisition of 30,021 Bitcoin, currently valued at around $3.5 billion.

Public Listing:
Upon completion, the merged entity will be renamed BSTR Holdings and listed on Nasdaq.

Additional Funding:
BSTR is also raising up to $1.5 billion in additional financing through a private placement, which could be used to acquire more Bitcoin.

Adam Back's Role:
Adam Back, co-founder and CEO of Blockstream, is a key figure behind BSTR, bringing his expertise in cryptography and Bitcoin to the venture.

Bitcoin-Native Strategy:
BSTR aims to build a Bitcoin-native financial services platform and develop Bitcoin-denominated capital markets.

Community Support:
The deal has received support from the Bitcoin community and is seen as a way to bridge traditional finance with the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Leadership:
Sean Bill, a veteran investor with experience in Bitcoin allocation for pension funds, is joining BSTR as chief investment officer.

Timing:
The merger is expected to be finalized by the fourth quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approvals.

Cantor, Adam Back Team Up to Launch Bitcoin Treasury Firm With $3.5 Billion in BTC

https://decrypt.co/330602/cantor-adam-back-team-launch-bitcoin-treasury-firm-3-5-billion-btc

Jul 17, 2025 9:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company to go Public Through Business Combination with Cantor Equity Partners I, Inc.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250717734598/en/Bitcoin-Standard-Treasury-Company-to-go-Public-Through-Business-Combination-with-Cantor-Equity-Partners-I-Inc.

I am excited to be part of the launch of Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company, led by the incredible @adam3us and his team.

BSTR will merge with $CEPO to acquire ~30K Bitcoin on its balance sheet, which would make it the 4th largest public Bitcoin treasury.@Official_Cantor is…— Brandon Lutnick (@Brandonlutnick) July 17, 2025

Bitcoin Standard Treasury To Go Public With 30,021 BTC In SPAC Merger

July 17, 2025
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/bitcoin-standard-treasury-to-go-public-with-30021-btc-in-spac-merger

Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company to go Public Through Business Combination with Cantor Equity Partners I, Inc.

| 07/17/2025
https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/CEPO/news/Bitcoin-Standard-Treasury-Company-to-go-Public-Through-Business-Combination-with-Cantor-Equity-Partners-I-Inc?e&id=3277710