MARA Holdings Sells $1.1 Billion in Bitcoin to Pay Off Debts and Fund AI Ventures
In a significant move, Bitcoin mining company MARA Holdings has sold 13,597 BTC, valued at around $1.1 billion, over a period of just six weeks. The sales took place following the end of September, with an average sale price of approximately $81,039 per Bitcoin.
This recent liquidation represents about 40% of the 34,012 Bitcoins the company held at the end of September. Notably, the amount sold in this short time frame is nearly six times what MARA produced during the entire third quarter of the year.
The proceeds from these sales have been strategically utilized, with $750 million directed towards repaying Bitcoin-backed loans. This repayment has allowed for the release of 17,477 BTC that were previously locked as collateral, significantly decreasing the portion of Bitcoin used as collateral from 57% to under 5% of the company’s total reserves.
The decision to sell Bitcoin marks a notable shift from MARA’s previous strategy of holding all mined Bitcoins, which was reaffirmed in July 2024. The company began to sell part of its newly mined Bitcoins in 2025 and permitted the use of its accumulated reserves starting in 2026. Cumulatively, MARA has sold over 40,000 btc throughout 2026 alone.
Going forward, MARA plans to utilize the capital generated from these sales to bolster its AI infrastructure, further reduce debts, and potentially initiate share buybacks, with the board approving a buyback program of up to $500 million. The company is also preparing to acquire the Long Ridge natural gas plant, which is expected to support the development of high-capacity AI data centers.
One of the driving factors behind these aggressive sales is a reported 35% decrease in mining revenue, which fell to $164 million in the third quarter. This financial pressure underscores the necessity for MARA to adapt its strategies and potentially continue selling its Bitcoin holdings in the near future.
Note: This information is not investment advice.
