Key Insights:
- The leading Bitcoin miner Core Scientific sold ~1,900 BTC for $175M at ~$92,100 per coin.
- Total BTC holdings fall to ~630 as focus shifts to AI.
- Bitcoin mining operations are now in runoff while AI projects scale.
Core Scientific BTC liquidation is now central to the company’s 2026 strategy. The Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin miner confirmed it plans to sell most of its 2,537 BTC holdings in Q1 2026.
This move follows a January sale of just over 1,900 BTC for $175 million. The average sale price stood near $92,100 per coin.
That level sits well above the current price of around $70,000. Management described the sales as opportunistic and tied directly to funding the AI data center expansion.
On 31, 2025, the company had 2,537 BTC worth about $222 million. Following the January trade, the reserves fell to a low point of 1,000 BTC. The balance left can also be monetized at the will of the market.
Bitcoin Miner Core Scientific Reverses 2025 Accumulation
The Wall Street liquidation of Core Scientific is a major turnaround compared to 2025. The Bitcoin miner increased its reserves almost tenfold last year.
The number of holdings increased from 256 BTC at the end of 2024 up to 2,537 BTC at the end of 2025. Unlike many peers, the firm chose to hold mined coins rather than sell into the market.
All 2025 additions came from self-mining operations. At the time, Bitcoin averaged over $101,000 based on carrying value calculations.
Now, it seems that the Bitcoin miner is ending its accumulation strategy. Chief Financial Officer Jim Nygaard said the company intends to remain flexible with future sales.
However, leadership made clear that rebuilding a large Bitcoin treasury is not the goal. Chief Executive Officer Adam Sullivan described the mining segment as “essentially in runoff.”
Operations continue mainly to meet power obligations while facilities transition toward colocation services.
Core Scientific BTC Liquidation Funds AI Expansion
The Core Scientific BTC liquidation directly supports its AI infrastructure buildout. The Bitcoin miner is developing a 1.5 gigawatt pipeline of leasable AI capacity.
Management cited more than $10 billion in contracted revenue tied to these initiatives. Liquidity at year-end reached approximately $530 million.
Executives also referenced up to $4 billion in potential financing linked to a 590 megawatt contract with CoreWeave. Bitcoin sales are being used to strengthen that capital base.
Fourth-quarter earnings added urgency. Revenue came in at $79.8 million, missing consensus estimates above $120 million.
The company reported a loss of $0.42 per share, wider than expected. Colocation revenue improved to $31.3 million, but could not offset weaker mining economics.
Pressure across the Bitcoin mining sector remains intense. Many of the operators have their Bitcoin at a lower price than the estimated production costs.
The price of Bitcoin stands at around $70,000, and it is moving within slim margins. Diversification by selling off reserves has become the norm.
Riot Platforms sold billions worth of Bitcoin (BTC) in 2025. Other Bitcoin miners have also reduced holdings to finance data center projects.
There is a rapid transition of the industry to high-performance computing and AI workloads.
In the case of Core Scientific, the BTC liquidation of the Bitcoin miner does not just entail managing balance sheets. It points to the structural change of pure Bitcoin mining.
Management is reallocating power, capital, and land toward AI-focused colocation operations.
Nasdaq-listed miners’ transitions rarely happen gradually. They follow capital constraints and margin compression. Core Scientific’s actions fit that pattern precisely.
Bitcoin’s price outlook adds another layer. Analysts suggest a break above $70,000 could open the path toward $75,000 or higher. Yet for miners facing rising costs, waiting carries risk.
The Bitcoin miner now holds under 1,000 BTC and has stated it will remain opportunistic. With Q1 underway, markets will watch how quickly the remaining balance is reduced and how aggressively AI capacity expands.