MARA Transfers $81M in Bitcoin to Galaxy Digital as Crypto Liquidation Hits $1B

MARA Holdings has transferred 996 Bitcoin worth approximately $81.13 million to a wallet identified as belonging to Galaxy Digital. The transfer comes as MARA shifts more of its business toward artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin fell close to $81,000, pushing total crypto liquidations above $1 billion.

MARA Moves 996 BTC to Galaxy Digital

Blockchain tracking platform Lookonchain flagged the transfer on Friday, October 9, 2026. The transaction involved 996 BTC worth $81.13 million, but it remains unclear whether MARA sold the Bitcoin or moved it for another purpose.

According to Bitcoin Treasuries data, MARA’s Bitcoin holdings fell from 53,822 BTC in February to 35,577 BTC in August. This shows how much the company’s reserves have declined in recent months.

In March, MARA sold 15,133 BTC for about $1.1 billion. The company used the proceeds mainly to buy back more than $1 billion in convertible debt at a discount, reducing its debt and potential future share dilution

The company has been selling Bitcoin to reduce debt and fund its move beyond cryptocurrency mining.

MARA Sells Bitcoin to Fund AI Expansion

MARA is also moving beyond its traditional Bitcoin mining business. The company is expanding into AI computing and data center infrastructure, where it can provide computing power for businesses.

In February, MARA announced a partnership with Starwood Capital Group to develop digital infrastructure sites for data centers and AI customers. The plan included about 1 gigawatt of near-term IT capacity, with the potential to expand further. 

The latest transfer could fit this broader treasury strategy, although it does not confirm another sale.

Bitcoin Nears $81K as Liquidations Top $1 Billion

The transfer comes as the crypto market faces renewed selling pressure. Bitcoin fell close to $81,000, triggering heavy losses across the market. Over the past 24 hours, total liquidations reached $1.03 billion, affecting 174,088 traders.

The sell-off also hit U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, which recorded $484.9 million in outflows on October 7, followed by another $244 million on October 8.