Strategy Pauses Weekly Bitcoin Purchases as Holdings Near $80 Billion Amid Record Gains

Strategy, the bitcoin treasury firm formerly known as MicroStrategy, has temporarily halted its routine bitcoin purchases as the cryptocurrency hovers near all-time highs. According to an SEC filing released Monday, the company made no new acquisitions between September 29 and October 5, marking a rare pause in its aggressive accumulation streak.

The firm’s total bitcoin holdings remain at 640,031 BTC, valued at roughly $79.4 billion based on current prices. Strategy acquired its massive bitcoin reserve at an average price of $73,983 per coin, amounting to a total investment of $47.4 billion, including fees and expenses. This translates to an estimated $32 billion in unrealized gains, as noted by co-founder and executive chairman Michael Saylor.

Saylor had hinted at the pause over the weekend, posting on social media, “No new orange dots this week — just a $9 billion reminder of why we HODL,” referencing the company’s gain in portfolio value over the past week.

In its latest quarterly filing, Strategy reported $3.89 billion in unrealized gains on its bitcoin holdings for the quarter ending September 30, alongside a deferred tax expense of $1.12 billion. The company’s digital asset carrying value stood at $73.21 billion, with a deferred tax liability of $7.43 billion.

Bitcoin Treasury Landscape Expands

According to Bitcoin Treasuries data, 185 public companies now hold bitcoin as part of their balance sheets. Following Strategy, the top institutional holders include Marathon Digital (52,850 BTC), Tether-backed Twenty One (43,514 BTC), Metaplanet (30,823 BTC), and Adam Back’s Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company (30,021 BTC). Other notable names include Bullish, Riot Platforms, Trump Media & Technology Group, CleanSpark, and Coinbase.

Last week, Strategy added 196 BTC worth $22 million, one of its smallest weekly purchases of 2025. The slowdown comes as the company transitions from funding bitcoin buys through its common stock ATM program to a new model based on perpetual preferred stock.

Shares Gain After Tax Clarification

Despite pausing purchases, Strategy’s stock (MSTR) surged 16.7% last week, closing Friday at $351.63, as investors reacted positively to new guidance from the U.S. Treasury. The clarification allows corporations to exclude unrealized crypto gains when calculating the 15% Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (CAMT) — a relief for major bitcoin holders.

“As a result of Treasury and IRS interim guidance issued yesterday, Strategy does not expect to be subject to the Corporate Alternate Minimum Tax due to unrealized gains on its bitcoin holdings,” Saylor confirmed.

As of Monday pre-market trading, MSTR shares were up 2.5%, bringing the company’s year-to-date gain to 17.2%, compared with bitcoin’s 32.7% increase over the same period.