Publicly listed Bitcoin mining companies have sold more than 15,000 BTC since October, around the time Bitcoin reached its $126,000 all-time high. Now, several mining companies are planning to sell even more in early 2026.
With Bitcoin struggling to stay above $70K, investors are asking: Is a bigger Bitcoin price drop coming next?
One of the largest sales came from Cango, which sold 4,451 BTC in February, equal to about 60% of its Bitcoin reserves. The company made this move because of its growing $407 million debt.
By selling the Bitcoin, Cango aimed to reduce its debt and strengthen its balance sheet.
Another major mining company, Riot Platforms, also sold 1,818 BTC in December, reducing its holdings from 19,368 BTC to 18,005 BTC. In company filings, Riot stated that it may sell a significant portion of its Bitcoin holdings in 2026 to improve liquidity and support operational expenses.
Meanwhile, MARA Holdings currently holds more than 53,000 BTC, though the company says it retains the flexibility to buy or sell depending on the market.
The recent BTC sales are not only about profit-taking. Some mining companies are also moving their money into AI projects and data centers, which are growing very fast right now.
For example, Bitcoin miner Bitdeer sold 1,132.9 BTC in just one week, selling all the Bitcoin it was holding. The company now wants to grow its business in AI data centers, cloud services, and mining hardware. To support this plan, Bitdeer has already raised $325 million through convertible notes and $43.7 million through equity funding.
Another major miner, Core Scientific, plans to sell around 2,537 BTC during Q1 of 2026 to help fund its growing AI infrastructure projects.
Several factors may be driving the selling. Eventually, mining costs have increased due to higher hash rates and mining difficulty, making operations more expensive. At the same time, Bitcoin’s recent drop toward $70K has reduced mining profit margins.
Some miners are also diversifying into artificial intelligence infrastructure, which requires large capital investments.
SwanDesk CEO Jacob King recently said on X that Bitcoin has become a “failed experiment,” saying companies that once promoted Bitcoin are now selling quickly after profits declined.
Some Bitcoin mining companies may sell more BTC in 2026, which could affect the price. At the same time, rising tension between the U.S., Israel, and Iran is making investors move away from risky assets like crypto.
Earlier this year, heavy miner selling pushed Bitcoin briefly below $60,000. Because miners often sell BTC to cover costs and upgrades, analysts believe more selling could happen this month.
As of now, Bitcoin is trading around $$70,191, reflecting a 3% drop in the last 24 hours.
Miners are selling to cover rising operational costs and debt. Many are also raising cash to invest in new artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.
Yes, firms like Core Scientific plan to sell thousands of BTC in Q1 2026 for operations and AI investments. Past sales pushed BTC below $60K; more could pressure prices below $70K if demand weakens.
Possibly—miner sales for costs plus U.S.-Israel-Iran risks could drive BTC lower from $70K, as seen earlier this year. Watch liquidity needs and geopolitics for short-term volatility.
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