Robinhood Markets has officially joined the S&P 500, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey from a retail trading app to a full-service financial platform. This inclusion opens doors for Robinhood to attract index-tracking fund investments and boost its credibility with institutional investors. Following the announcement, Robinhood’s stock saw a notable increase of 7% in after-hours trading. Meanwhile, Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), which boasts over $70 billion in Bitcoin reserves, met the S&P 500’s eligibility criteria. However, despite this achievement, the committee chose not to include the company in the latest index rebalance. Analysts suggest that Strategy’s heavy reliance on cryptocurrency and its volatile business model may have played a role in this decision. The exclusion of Strategy underscores the challenges faced by companies primarily focused on crypto assets when vying for mainstream financial market inclusion.