When was the last time you saw a vape company make Wall Street headlines?
On Monday, CEA Industries—a small Canadian vape brand—shocked everyone. Its stock shot up a mind-blowing 833% in a single day. Not because they dropped a new vape flavor. Nope. They announced they’re buying crypto. A lot of it.
The company plans to build the world’s largest public BNB treasury, turning itself into a kind of crypto-stock hybrid.
Retail traders went wild. Mentions of the company on Stocktwits surged 12,000%. And just like that, a low-key vape firm became the next meme-stock darling.
So what’s really going on here—and could this be the start of something bigger?
Let’s break it down.
Table of Contents
When a Vape Company Breaks the Internet
When was the last time a vape company made stock market history?
I mean, really—who had “crypto-fueled vape stock explodes 833%” on their 2025 bingo card?
On Monday, CEA Industries, a tiny Canadian firm best known for selling nicotine vapes, saw its stock price shoot up like a rocket—from $8.88 to a jaw-dropping $82.88 in a single trading session.
No new product launch. No viral campaign. Just one bold announcement: they’re going all in on crypto.
Let’s talk about how this wild pivot into BNB (the native token of Binance) turned a quiet vape company into the hottest ticker of the week.
The Big News: BNB, Not Nicotine
Here’s what went down.
CEA Industries announced a shift in strategy. They’re not just selling vape pens anymore—they’re building what they claim will be the world’s largest publicly traded BNB treasury.
Yep, BNB. The fifth-largest cryptocurrency in the world. The one that fuels the massive Binance ecosystem.
Why? According to their incoming CEO, David Namdar, they want to create a U.S.-listed vehicle that gives traditional investors a way to gain exposure to digital assets like BNB—without needing to open a crypto wallet.
And apparently, the market liked that idea a lot.
How They’re Paying for It
CEA isn’t just tossing spare change at crypto. They’re raising serious capital.
Their plan includes:
- A $500 million PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity) deal
- $400 million in cash
- $100 million directly in crypto
- Another $750 million potentially raised through exercised warrants
If everything plays out, we’re looking at a potential $1.25 billion injection into their balance sheet.
Not bad for a vape company most people had never heard of last week.
Why BNB? Why Now?
BNB might not have the pop culture clout of Bitcoin or Ethereum, but it’s a powerhouse.
It fuels the Binance Smart Chain, one of the most widely used blockchain ecosystems out there. DeFi apps. NFTs. Token launches. BNB touches all of it.
And unlike BTC or ETH, it’s been relatively underrepresented in corporate treasuries—until now.
CEA saw a gap. And they jumped.
They’re betting that by being the first public company to hoard BNB, they’ll stand out in the crypto-stock crossover space.
Meme Stock Vibes, But With Actual News
Let’s be real: some of that 833% surge came from good old-fashioned retail hype.
Mentions of CEA on Stocktwits exploded by 12,000% on Monday. Trader sentiment? “Extremely bullish.”
It’s giving meme stock energy—like AMC or GameStop back in the day. But here’s the thing:
CEA isn’t just riding a wave of online chatter. They made a tangible move. They raised money. They outlined a crypto strategy. They named a new CEO with fintech chops.
It’s hype with substance.
A Bigger Trend: Crypto in Corporate Treasuries
CEA isn’t the only one diving into digital assets.
More and more companies are starting to treat crypto like cash. Or, more accurately, like treasury gold.
You’ve probably heard about Strategy, which has been stacking Bitcoin since 2020. Or Trump Media’s recent pivot into crypto assets.
What these companies understand is this:
- Crypto isn’t just speculative—it’s strategic.
- It offers hedge potential.
- It attracts younger investors.
- It creates buzz (clearly).
CEA just took that playbook and applied it to BNB. They’re not chasing a trend—they’re trying to lead one.
What This Means for Investors
If you’re wondering, “Should I invest in CEA now?”—slow down.
The market’s excitement is real, but so is the risk. A move like 833% in a day is usually followed by some cooling off.
But here’s what’s interesting:
- CEA is positioning itself as both a consumer brand (vapes) and a crypto vehicle (BNB treasury).
- That’s a unique combo. Kind of like Tesla selling cars while holding Bitcoin.
- It creates exposure to two very different markets: nicotine and digital assets.
So if you’re someone who watches trends, likes asymmetric bets, or just enjoys watching wild stories unfold—this stock’s one to watch.
The CEO Behind the Bet
Let’s talk about David Namdar for a second.
This isn’t some random executive. Namdar has deep roots in crypto and venture capital. He’s not trying to “disrupt vaping” or “reinvent blockchain.” He’s just making a bold financial play.
He sees BNB as undervalued in public markets, according to BusinessInsider.
By building a publicly traded BNB treasury, he’s giving institutional investors a cleaner way in—without having to hold tokens directly.
And that could be huge, especially if regulators crack down on crypto access or if ETF approvals drag on.
What Could Go Wrong?
Look, not everything about this move is perfect.
Some potential red flags:
- Crypto is still volatile. BNB isn’t immune.
- Vape sales aren’t exactly booming either.
- There’s always a risk the hype fades and the fundamentals don’t hold.
But at least CEA is being clear about what they’re doing. They’re not hiding the pivot. They’re leaning into it, hard.
And that kind of clarity—especially in the crypto-adjacent stock space—is rare.
Is This the Future of Public Companies?
Here’s a wild thought:
What if more small or mid-cap companies start doing this?
Not building new products. Not chasing ad dollars. But turning themselves into on-ramps for digital assets.
It’s part treasury strategy, part investor marketing.
And as long as the SEC doesn’t come crashing down on it, we might see more “boring” businesses get creative with crypto.
Final Thoughts
A week ago, no one was talking about CEA Industries.
Now, they’re one of the most talked-about stocks on the internet. All because a vape company decided to buy crypto.
It’s weird. It’s risky. And it might just work.
At the very least, it’s a reminder that in 2025, markets move fast—and bold bets can still shock the system.
Barclays has also been on a winning streak in the stocks market thanks to Trump’s Tarrif policies.
Pingback: 3 Signs the Stock Market’s Overheating (Summer 2025)