Strategy CEO: Selling Bitcoin is for "market immunity" testing, not a strategic retreat

Strategy CEO Phong Le responded to criticism regarding the company's first sale of Bitcoin since 2022 in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, stating that the move was a deliberate limited test aimed at demonstrating operational flexibility rather than abandoning the belief in holding assets. Between May 26 and 31, Strategy sold 32 BTC (approximately $2.5 million) at an average price of $77,135, which accounted for only 0.004% of its total holdings, but it triggered a strong market reaction.

Le listed three reasons for the sale: to prove the company's ability to sell when necessary, to confirm that internal disposal processes are fully operational, and to capture tax loss opportunities. He emphasized that the sale was not due to financial difficulties, and the company did not need to sell assets to pay STRC preferred stock dividends, while still net buying about 1,500 BTC during the same period. Le admitted that the most intense criticism came from retail investors and "crypto anarchists," while institutional shareholders were not unsettled by it.

"We will sell when it benefits common stock shareholders." Currently, Bitcoin is priced at about $61,600, down over 40% from last October's peak of $126,198, and MSTR's stock price has fallen about 67% from its 52-week high. As of the end of May, Strategy held 845,256 BTC and resumed purchases in early June.