Strategy (MSTR) Crashes 55%—Is A $44 Billion Bitcoin Liquidation Possible?
26 Febbraio 2025 - 3:00PM
NEWSBTC
Shares of Strategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) have dropped by over 55% from the
November 24 high at $543 to around $250. With the software
intelligence firm now holding approximately 499,096 Bitcoin—worth
around $44 billion at current prices—market participants are
wondering whether the company could ever face a forced liquidation
of its massive Bitcoin treasury. On Tuesday, analysts from The
Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) took to X to provide a
comprehensive thread analyzing this scenario. Here’s what they had
to say: “The MicroStrategy liquidation: As MicroStrategy, MSTR,
falls over -55%, many are asking about ‘forced liquidation.’ The
company now holds $44 BILLION worth of Bitcoin, could they be
forced to sell it? Is liquidation even possible?” Is A Forced
Bitcoin Liquidation Possible? According to The Kobeissi Letter,
MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin holdings total approximately 499,096 BTC,
currently worth $43.7 billion. The firm’s average cost basis sits
around $66,350 per Bitcoin. This naturally raises concerns about
what happens if Bitcoin’s price were to drop significantly below
MicroStrategy’s average entry point. “Let us begin by stating that
this isn’t the first time liquidation is mentioned. MSTR has been
buying Bitcoin for years and there have been MULTIPLE bear markets
since then. This includes the 2022 bear market when Bitcoin fell
from ~$70K to ~$15K. Is this time different?,” the analysts write.
Related Reading: Market Signals Point To Caution: Bitcoin’s 3-Day
Chart Shows Potential Sell Alert Critically, MicroStrategy’s
operations rely on raising capital—often through convertible
notes—to buy more Bitcoin. The Kobeissi Letter points out that
MicroStrategy currently carries about $8.2 billion in total debt
for its $43.4 billion Bitcoin holdings, representing a roughly 19%
leverage ratio. Much of this debt is held in convertible notes
maturing around 2028. “Just about the only way a ‘forced
liquidation’ occurs if there is a ‘fundamental change’ at the
company. This COULD require MSTR to liquidate Bitcoin holdings if
an early redemption is called on the notes,” the experts from The
Kobeissi Letter argue. A “fundamental change” could include
corporate bankruptcy, or a vote by shareholders to dissolve the
company—both scenarios that The Kobeissi Letter stresses are remote
under the current structure. Michael Saylor, MicroStrategy’s
Executive Chairman and prominent Bitcoin advocate, holds 46.8% of
the company’s voting power, meaning he could effectively block
decisions leading to liquidation. Related Reading: Bitcoin Crashes:
Experts Warn Of 6-Month Slump To $73,000 Despite the steep share
price decline, The Kobeissi Letter suggests that an outright forced
liquidation is “highly unlikely.” The structure of the convertible
notes and MicroStrategy’s ability to raise capital give the firm
significant flexibility. Even so, if Bitcoin were to experience a
protracted and severe price drop—well below its current
levels—MicroStrategy might face challenges in servicing its debt
and raising fresh capital: “However, what if these convertible
bonds remain below the conversion price at maturity, beginning in
2027+? For this to happen, Bitcoin would need to fall well over 50%
from current levels and remain there.” Michael Saylor has
repeatedly brushed off the liquidation scenario. According to The
Kobeissi Letter: “Michael Saylor was asked about liquidation
recently. His answer was that even if Bitcoin fell to $1, they
still would not get liquidated. They would ‘just buy all of the
Bitcoin.’ While this sounds good in theory, the convertible note
holders cannot be forgotten.” MicroStrategy’s business
model—raising funds to buy Bitcoin, potentially driving the price
higher, and then issuing new shares at a premium—depends on
investor confidence. If shares continue to falter, or if Bitcoin
dives well below MicroStrategy’s average entry price, the firm’s
ability to attract capital could be severely tested: “We are now
witnessing the first ‘bear market’ in MicroStrategy since it gained
popularity in 2024. The question becomes: will investors continue
to buy the dip here? Michael Saylor says ‘Bitcoin is on sale.’”
However, with Saylor’s voting power and the long-dated convertible
notes, a forced liquidation seems highly unlikely in the near term.
At press time, BTC traded at $89,245. Featured image created with
DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
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