Michael Saylor, the executive chairman of MicroStrategy, moved quickly on Friday morning to shut down growing speculation that MicroStrategy—referred to in several posts as Strategy—had begun selling portions of its massive Bitcoin holdings during the ongoing market slide.
The rumor spread rapidly as screenshots of large Bitcoin transfers circulated across X, prompting concern that one of the world’s most prominent corporate BTC accumulators was reducing exposure for the first time in years.
Key Takeaways
- Michael Saylor firmly denied claims that MicroStrategy sold any of its Bitcoin during the market downturn.
- Large wallet movements that sparked the rumor were internal transfers rather than BTC liquidations.
- MicroStrategy continues to aggressively accumulate Bitcoin, with new purchases expected to be reported soon.
- Despite sharp declines in BTC and MSTR stock, Saylor remains confident in Bitcoin’s long-term strength and recovery potential.
Saylor Rejects Rumors as Market Volatility Intensifies
Appearing on CNBC early Friday, Saylor directly addressed the chatter:
“We are buying bitcoin,” he said. “We’ll report our next buys on Monday morning.”
He added that the company is “accelerating its purchases,” hinting that recent activity on wallets associated with the firm will reflect aggressive accumulation rather than selling.
This came as both Bitcoin and MicroStrategy’s stock saw significant declines. Bitcoin dropped to around $95,000–$96,000, while MSTR slid another 4%, falling below $200 and extending its year-to-date decline to nearly 35%.
Saylor emphasized that volatility doesn’t change the company’s conviction:
“We’ve put in a pretty strong base of support around here,” he noted, suggesting confidence in a potential rebound.
How the Rumor Started
Online speculation erupted after on-chain data showed sizable BTC movements from wallets linked to MicroStrategy. Without context, many took this as evidence of liquidation. The situation escalated after Arkham’s dashboard briefly displayed what appeared to be a drop in the company’s tracked holdings—from roughly 484,000 BTC to about 437,000 BTC.
Influencers quickly amplified the numbers, claiming that over $1 billion worth of Bitcoin had been sold.
Market watchers grew more alarmed when Walter Bloomberg shared the updated data, writing that this would be the first recorded decrease in MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin stack since mid-2023. The post went viral within minutes.
But Saylor’s response was immediate and unambiguous.
Moments after the CNBC interview, he posted on X:
“There is no truth to this rumor.”
The statement was intended to put the speculation to rest, especially after earlier posts from Saylor—including a “HODL” meme of himself in a lifeboat next to a burning ship—fueled confusion about the firm’s intentions.
Wallet Shifts Explained: Not Sales
Shortly after Saylor’s post, analysts pointed out that the wallet activity likely reflected internal restructuring rather than actual sales. Ted Pillows, one of the first to push back against the claims, said the Bitcoin had simply been moved to a different address under company control.
He cautioned traders to ignore sensational accounts that had not verified their interpretation of the transfers.
This kind of internal movement is common, especially for institutions managing hundreds of thousands of Bitcoins, yet the timing—during a steep market dip—made traders more sensitive to the displayed data.
Commitment to Accumulation Continues
With Bitcoin still showing strong year-over-year performance despite the pullback—and sitting far above its price range of $55,000–$65,000 just a year ago—Saylor encouraged investors to keep perspective:
“Zoom out,” he said. Even with the recent drop, Bitcoin at roughly $95,000 remains a strong return compared to its position 12 months prior.
His comments suggest MicroStrategy views the current volatility as an opportunity rather than a setback.
