Core Scientific stock slides as miner plans to sell most Bitcoin holdings in 2026

Shares of Core Scientific fell in premarket trading following the company’s announcement that it plans to monetize substantially all of its remaining Bitcoin holdings in 2026 to fund liquidity needs and its AI infrastructure pivot.

The stock was down about 3% in early premarket action to $15.99 after closing Monday at $16.49, already off 2.8% on the day, as investors reacted to the scale and timing of the planned asset sales.

Core Scientific stock performance | Source: Google Finance

Core Scientific unloads $175M in Bitcoin, eyes AI expansion in 2026

In its latest annual filing, the company disclosed that it sold just over 1,900 Bitcoin in January for approximately $175 million at prices materially higher than current market levels. Following those sales, Core Scientific now holds under 1,000 $BTC and said it expects to remain opportunistic in managing its treasury.

The company also stated that during 2026 it currently expects to sell substantially all of its remaining Bitcoin holdings, subject to market conditions, with the majority of those sales anticipated in the first quarter. Proceeds are intended to enhance liquidity and fund planned capital expenditures and other cash requirements.

Management cautioned that the timing and amount of sales could change depending on market dynamics and liquidity needs.

The move reflects mounting pressure on mining economics following the 2024 halving, which cut block rewards in half and compressed industry margins. While Bitcoin prices have remained volatile, rising network difficulty and infrastructure costs have forced miners to reassess capital allocation strategies.

For Core Scientific, the recalibration coincides with a broader transformation. The company has been expanding its data center footprint to serve artificial intelligence and high-performance computing clients, positioning itself as a digital infrastructure provider rather than a pure-play Bitcoin miner.

By converting Bitcoin holdings into cash to fund AI-related capital expenditures, Core Scientific is signaling a shift away from the traditional miner treasury model toward a more diversified and infrastructure-driven growth strategy.