A viral post claiming MicroStrategy would sell $5 billion in Bitcoin sent traders scrambling this week — but the claim was based on a capital plan announced five weeks earlier, not new news. Michael Saylor, the company's co-founder, said on August 1 that no new authorization had been made and that MicroStrategy still expects to be a net buyer of Bitcoin over time. The account behind the post, Watcher Guru, has since deleted it.
Where the viral claim came from
On June 29, MicroStrategy announced a capital plan that included a BTC Monetization Program. That program allows the company to sell Bitcoin for specific purposes — rebuilding its cash reserve, buying back shares, or paying dividends — with total spending limits of $5.01 billion. The viral post, which surfaced around August 1, treated that old authorization as breaking news. It wasn't. Saylor clarified the next day: the plan was public for weeks, and the company's stance hasn't changed.
What MicroStrategy is actually doing with its Bitcoin
MicroStrategy has been selling small amounts of Bitcoin this year, but only to cover dividends. Total sales through July 26 came to $218.4 million — just 0.4% of its stack, which was worth $54.8 billion at the time. In July alone, sales hit about $135 million, more than the entire second quarter. The company bought 85,296 Bitcoin between April and June, sold 1,395. Net stack grew 11% to 846,000 BTC.
The first sale since 2022 happened days after CEO Phong Le said on the Q1 earnings call (May 26) that selling Bitcoin was part of the toolkit. That sale covered a dividend. MicroStrategy's cash reserve had shrunk to $871 million by May 25, after spending $1.38 billion clearing debt.
The big loss — mostly paper
On July 30, MicroStrategy reported an $8.22 billion loss for the quarter. Almost all of it was a paper loss tied to Bitcoin's price drop. Bitcoin traded near $63,378 on August 1, roughly half its October 2025 record. The company's massive holdings mean its earnings swing wildly with the market.
Purchases paused, but not forever
As of August 1, MicroStrategy had paused Bitcoin purchases for five weeks. That's the longest break in a while, but Saylor's statement suggests it's temporary. The company still holds 846,000 BTC and expects to keep buying over time. The viral claim that a $5 billion fire sale is coming? Not based on anything new.
