As Bitcoin approaches $70,000, Strategy becomes the most shorted stock in the US, with $6 billion in short bets risking a blowout.

BTC-1,16%

February 26 News: As Bitcoin’s price rebounds to the $68,000 to $70,000 range, the company Strategy, once famous for its large Bitcoin holdings, is now facing a short squeeze. Data shows that the company is currently the most shorted large-cap listed company in the U.S., with about 14% of its circulating market value in short positions, amounting to nearly $6 billion.

Led by Michael Saylor, Strategy has been implementing a “Bitcoin Treasury Model” since 2020, financing Bitcoin purchases through issuing stock and convertible bonds to leverage its exposure. This strategy delivered remarkable returns during the last bull market, with the stock price soaring from $12 to over $473 in November 2025, significantly outperforming Bitcoin itself.

However, since Bitcoin hit its peak in October 2025 and retraced nearly 50%, Strategy’s stock price has come under pressure, with a total decline of 60% over the past six months, currently hovering around $135. Although the company still holds 717,722 Bitcoins valued at about $47 billion, market skepticism about its high-leverage asset allocation model has increased, and valuation premiums have noticeably shrunk.

According to a hedge fund monitoring report released by Goldman Sachs on February 20, Strategy ranks first among companies with a market value over $25 billion in short interest, with only 63 institutional hedge funds holding its shares, accounting for about 3% of its equity. The rising short interest is seen as a concentrated market expression of concerns over the risks of the “corporate Bitcoin reserve model.”

At the industry level, the Bitcoin treasury concept is also cooling down. Data shows that Strategy accounts for over 99% of the current net Bitcoin purchases by companies, with most other listed companies pausing their accumulation. Bitcoin’s price has been fluctuating between $66,000 and $70,000, far below the peak of over $120,000, putting pressure on leveraged corporate balance sheets.

Against the backdrop of sideways Bitcoin prices and high corporate debt, Strategy’s performance has become a barometer for observing the risks and returns of the “corporate Bitcoin accumulation model.” Whether short sellers succeed will depend on Bitcoin’s next trend direction and the market’s revaluation of high-leverage Bitcoin assets.

Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to Disclaimer.

Related Articles

Crypto ETPs Record $1.4B Weekly Inflows as Bitcoin Rally Extends Rally Optimism

Cryptocurrency ETPs saw $1.4 billion in inflows last week, marking the highest since January, driven mainly by Bitcoin. Year-to-date inflows reached $3.8 billion, boosted by positive geopolitical sentiment and Bitcoin price increases.

GateNews9m ago

Empery Digital Reduces Bitcoin Holdings by 20 BTC, Total Position Falls to 2,914

Empery Digital sold 20 BTC for around $1.5 million, raising its total holdings to 2,914 BTC. The company plans to continue selling bitcoin to fund share repurchases and manage debt.

GateNews45m ago

Ionic Digital's Bitcoin Mining Output Falls 14.9% in March, Holdings Rise to 2,815 BTC

Ionic Digital reported a 14.9% decline in March bitcoin mining output, producing 28.05 BTC with a hash rate decrease of 19.4%. The company holds 2,815.6 BTC and maintained zero debt, selling no bitcoin in March.

GateNews45m ago

Bitcoin ETFs pulled in nearly $1 billion in a single week, setting the biggest weekly net inflow record since January

Bitcoin spot ETF posted a net inflow of $996 million for the week, hitting a new high since January. BlackRock’s IBIT led the way. Total assets under Bitcoin spot ETFs surpassed $100 billion, and the institutional allocation trend continues.

GateInstantTrends51m ago

Strategy Acquires 34,164 BTC for $2.54 Billion, Total Holdings Reach 815,061 BTC

Gate News message, Strategy (previously MicroStrategy) has purchased 34,164 BTC for $2.54 billion at an average price of $74,395 per Bitcoin. The company now holds 815,061 BTC, acquired for a total of approximately $61.56 billion at an average price of $75,527 per Bitcoin.

GateNews1h ago

Public Bitcoin Miners Sold Over 32,000 BTC in Q1 2026, Hitting Record High

In Q1 2026, Bitcoin miners sold over 32,000 BTC, the highest on record, to reinvest in AI infrastructure amid rising mining costs.

GateNews2h ago
Comment
0/400
No comments