Mounting Pressure Challenges Strategy’s Bitcoin HODL Vow
Michael Saylor’s long-standing promise to never sell Bitcoin is facing renewed scrutiny after a recent regulatory filing revealed his firm, Strategy, may be forced to liquidate part of its holdings if market conditions deteriorate further.
Although the company has previously included such warnings in filings, a fresh 8-K submitted to the SEC on 7 April 2025 reignited concerns among investors already rattled by Bitcoin’s recent price drop.
Risk Disclosure Sparks Panic Amid Market Volatility
The 8-K filing stated that if Strategy cannot secure equity or debt financing on favourable terms, it may be “required to sell Bitcoin to satisfy our financial obligations,” potentially “at prices below our cost basis or that are otherwise unfavourable.”
While this phrasing is not new, having appeared in previous filings including its Q1 2024 10-Q, its timing—amid a steep decline in Bitcoin’s price—has triggered renewed fears of a possible liquidation.
The firm’s disclosure made clear that its significant reliance on Bitcoin as the core of its balance sheet leaves it exposed to substantial risk.
The company warned,
“A significant decrease in the market value of our Bitcoin holdings could adversely affect our ability to satisfy our financial obligations.”
Massive Bitcoin Holding Now Under Scrutiny
Since 31 March 2025, Strategy reported holding 528,185 BTC, a stash currently valued at over $40.1 billion.
This includes a recent purchase of 22,048 BTC worth $1.91 billion, funded through a $711 million preferred stock offering.
Despite this aggressive accumulation, the company may soon face a stark choice—hold on and risk insolvency, or sell and break from its core philosophy.
Michael Saylor, the firm’s executive chairman and Bitcoin evangelist, has long maintained a “never sell” stance.
He once declared that he intended to leave his Bitcoin to pro-crypto causes after his death.
But the latest filing brings a dose of reality to that narrative, revealing that financial obligations may override ideology if funding dries up.
Bitcoin Crash Linked To Trump’s Trade Tariffs
Bitcoin’s recent volatility has been amplified by geopolitical developments, particularly former President Donald Trump’s sweeping import tariffs.
His 10% across-the-board tariff, announced on what he called “Liberation Day,” quickly escalated into higher rates targeting key trading partners.
The move sent shockwaves through global markets and knocked Bitcoin down from $82,650 to as low as $74,700 before bouncing back by 8% to hover near $80,000.
As economic uncertainty grows, digital assets like Bitcoin are under pressure.
The wider crypto market has struggled to maintain momentum, with traders bracing for further turbulence amid fears of inflation, recession, and tightened global liquidity.
Mounting Debt and Falling Share Price Add to Woes
Strategy’s financial position is coming under increased stress.
At the end of March, the company was burdened with $8 billion in debt, along with obligations to pay $35 million in annual interest and $150 million in yearly stock dividends.
These commitments, paired with a potential $6 billion unrealised loss for Q1 2025, raise questions about whether the company’s aggressive Bitcoin strategy remains sustainable.
Despite a $1.69 billion income tax benefit, the firm acknowledged the growing difficulty of returning to profitability, particularly if Bitcoin prices continue to slide.
Its share price, once surging high enough to earn Strategy a spot in the Nasdaq 100, has now fallen by nearly half.
Scepticism Grows Around Strategy’s Bitcoin Vision
Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mike McGlone commented on the fragile optimism surrounding Bitcoin’s rally.
He highlighted how sentiment can shift quickly with price movements, remarking,
“Everyone’s in for the long-term, as long as it’s going up,”.
Reflecting on Bitcoin’s journey from $10,000 to $100,000, he added,
“Now, I see the reversion path back towards $10,000.”
With no recent announcements of new Bitcoin purchases and a tightening financial environment, all eyes are now on whether Saylor and Strategy will stick to their long-defended position—or be forced to sell under pressure.