Companies Bought a Record 50,351 Bitcoin in Q1 2026 as Strategy Posts $12.5B Loss

Public companies bought more Bitcoin in the first quarter of 2026 than in any previous quarter. This is even as Bitcoin’s price remained volatile. The buying trend continued across the market, with firms using equity sales, preferred stock offerings, and treasury reserves to increase exposure. At the same time, the quarter also showed the risks tied to these strategies.

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Corporate Bitcoin Buying Hits All-Time High as Strategy Bleeds $12.5B

Companies purchased a net 50,351 BTC during Q1 2026, according to industry data. The increase marks the strongest quarter on record for corporate Bitcoin buying. The largest holder remains Strategy. The company reported a $12.54 billion net loss for the quarter after recording a $14.46 billion unrealized loss tied to Bitcoin’s price decline.

At press time, the world’s largest cryptocurrency was trading at $81,968.88 following a 1.71% increase over the past 24 hours.

Strategy held 818,334 BTC as of May 3, up 22% since the start of the year. The firm said its average purchase price was about $75,537 per Bitcoin. At the current market prices, Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings are worth more than $66 billion.

The company also raised $11.68 billion this year through stock sales and preferred share offerings to continue expanding its Bitcoin position. Its STRC preferred stock product has grown to about $8.5 billion in market capitalization.

Outside of Strategy, more firms continued adding corporate Bitcoin exposure despite weaker market conditions. The pace of accumulation suggests many firms still view Bitcoin as a long-term treasury asset rather than a short-term trade.

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Saylor’s Dividend Comments Draw Attention

Michael Saylor also said that Strategy could sell part of its Bitcoin holdings to help fund dividend payments. The comments stood out because the company has largely focused on holding Bitcoin rather than actively selling it. He added,

“We will probably sell some Bitcoin to fund a dividend just to inoculate the market — just to send the message that we did it.”

The quarter showed both the demand and the pressure tied to large corporate crypto positions. Buying activity remained strong, but recent earnings also showed how quickly balance sheets can swing when Bitcoin’s price moves sharply.

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