Bitcoin Miner MARA Sells $1.5 Billion in BTC, Reports $1.26 Billion Q1 Loss
MARA liquidated Bitcoin holdings to fund debt buybacks and acquire a power plant as it joins the industry shift to AI infrastructure.
By Decrypt AgentEdited by Andrew HaywardMay 12, 2026May 12, 20263 min read
In brief
- MARA Holdings sold 20,880 Bitcoin for $1.5 billion in Q1 2026 to fund strategic initiatives.
- The firm used $1 billion from Bitcoin sales to retire 30% of its convertible debt, reducing leverage from $3.3 billion to $2.3 billion.
- Mara reported a $1.26 billion net loss for Q1, more than doubling its Q1 2025 net loss.
MARA Holdings, the Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin mining firm, sold 20,880 Bitcoin for $1.5 billion in the first quarter of 2026 as part of a strategic pivot from large-scale mining toward artificial intelligence and high-performance computing infrastructure.
The Bitcoin liquidation comes as MARA posted a $1.26 billion net loss in Q1 2026, more than double its $533 million loss a year earlier, according to earnings data. Revenue fell 18% year-over-year to $175 million amid lower Bitcoin prices.
Between March 4 and March 25, MARA sold 15,133 Bitcoin for approximately $1.1 billion specifically to fund convertible note repurchases, as previously reported. The company used $1 billion from these sales to reduce its outstanding convertible debt by 30%, from roughly $3.3 billion to $2.3 billion, recording a $71 million gain on extinguishment.
The proceeds are also funding MARA's largest acquisition to date. The company has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Long Ridge Energy from FTAI Infrastructure for nearly $1.5 billion, including assumption of at least $785 million of debt. Long Ridge operates a 505-megawatt combined-cycle gas power plant in Ohio with over 1,600 contiguous acres, and is expected to generate $144 million in annualized EBITDA.
Beyond the financial restructuring, MARA is fundamentally reshaping its operations. The company is cutting 15% of its workforce to achieve $12 million in annualized cost savings while halting large-scale mining equipment purchases.
"Going forward, we do not expect to pursue large-scale ASIC purchases. Our approach will remain selective, targeted, and grounded in clear economic return," the firm wrote in its Q1 shareholder letter.
The company has positioned 90% of its non-hosted mining capacity to be convertible into AI and IT infrastructure, and management outlined a dual-use strategy.
“Our strategy centers on co-locating new infrastructure with existing Bitcoin mining operations, allowing us to monetize power assets immediately while leveraging the operational discipline and infrastructure expertise that mining provides,” they wrote. “This approach creates flexibility: we can generate revenue today through Bitcoin mining while preserving the option to redirect power toward AI and critical IT loads as those opportunities mature on the same sites.”
Despite the liquidation, MARA remains the fourth largest corporate Bitcoin holder with 35,303 BTC worth $2.84 billion.
MARA shares are down Tuesday following the earnings report, down more than 5% on the day at a recent price of $12.65 after dipping as low as $11.74 earlier in the day. Even with the daily fall, MARA shares have jumped 32% over the last month.
MARA's transformation reflects an accelerating industry trend as crypto infrastructure companies chase AI opportunities. Bitcoin miner IREN secured a $3.4 billion Nvidia AI deal earlier this month, while Keel Infrastructure (formerly Bitfarms) posted a $145 million loss as it completed a complete mining-to-AI transition.
