Introduction
Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, stands as the leading corporate Bitcoin holder, with nearly 650,000 BTC in its reserves. Its business model revolves around raising capital and converting it into Bitcoin, maintaining a market-cap-to-Bitcoin value (mNAV) above 1. However, recent comments from its CEO hint at potential stress scenarios that could lead to asset sales.
Key Takeaways
- •Strategy is the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, with approximately 650,000 BTC.
- •The company’s approach involves raising capital to purchase Bitcoin while ensuring its market value remains above the value of its holdings.
- •CEO Phong Le has indicated that selling Bitcoin would be a last resort, triggered only if the market cap drops below the worth of its Bitcoin assets and funding access becomes severely limited.
- •Any potential sale would likely be targeted rather than a complete exit, given Bitcoin’s high liquidity and trading volume.
Market Context and Sentiment
Recent price corrections in Bitcoin and shifts in macroeconomic factors have heightened awareness about the possibility of stress-induced sales by large holders. The sentiment surrounding these potential sales is neutral, but the price impact could be negative, as potential sales could influence Bitcoin’s market stability under stressed conditions.
Company Strategy and Bitcoin Holdings
Strategy, the company that has rebranded from MicroStrategy, has positioned itself as the world’s largest Bitcoin treasury holder. As of early December 2025, it owns nearly 650,000 BTC, representing over 3% of the total supply and the largest concentration among public companies. This extensive Bitcoin reserve makes Strategy a proxy for institutional Bitcoin exposure, with many investors favoring its stock to gain indirect Bitcoin exposure through capital raises that are converted into digital assets.
The company’s operational model hinges on raising capital via traditional financial instruments, including common stocks, perpetual preferred shares, and convertible debt. These funds are then predominantly used to buy and hold Bitcoin, creating a feedback loop where rising stock premiums enable further acquisitions. Key metrics such as Bitcoin per share (BPS) and the market-cap-to-net-asset-value (nNAV) ratio serve as indicators of the company’s financial health and its capacity to expand its Bitcoin holdings.
Potential for Bitcoin Sales
However, recent comments from CEO Phong Le outlined a “last resort” scenario whereby Strategy might sell part of its Bitcoin holdings. This would only occur if two conditions are met simultaneously: the market-cap-to-Bitcoin ratio (mNAV) drops below 1, implying the company’s market value falls to or below its Bitcoin holdings, and access to new capital becomes prohibitively difficult. In such dire circumstances, selling Bitcoin would be viewed as a strategic move to meet obligations, not a deviation from the long-term Bitcoin thesis.
Several factors could precipitate this scenario, including a sharp decline in Bitcoin’s price, narrowing stock premiums, funding difficulties, and internal obligations such as dividend payments. Despite these risks, Strategy emphasizes that any potential sales would be targeted and measured, leveraging Bitcoin’s high liquidity amid a market daily trading volume exceeding tens of billions of dollars.
Monitoring Strategy's Financial Stance
For market participants, close monitoring of filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, company disclosures, and core metrics like Bitcoin per share and nNAV will be essential in understanding Strategy’s financial stance and potential strategic shifts related to its Bitcoin holdings.