In a significant shift that underscores the intense pressure of the current crypto bear market, Genius Group, a company known for its AI-powered educational platforms and previously vocal “Bitcoin first” strategy, announced it has sold its entire Bitcoin holdings. The company revealed on Tuesday that it liquidated its remaining BTC during the first quarter of 2026 to pay off debt, a move that aligns it with a growing list of corporate entities reducing their cryptocurrency exposure.
The statement from Genius Group directly contradicts its own declared strategy from November 2024, when it committed to allocating 90% or more of its reserves to Bitcoin. “The company will recommence building its Bitcoin Treasury when it believes market conditions are more favorable,” the Q1 2026 report noted, suggesting a tactical retreat rather than a complete abandonment of its long-term thesis.
This reversal follows a period of legal and financial turbulence for the firm. Court records show Genius Group was temporarily barred by a U.S. court from expanding its Bitcoin treasury around April 2025. While it resumed purchasing in June 2025, its holdings had already begun a decline from a peak. As of March 2026, the company held 84 BTC, valued at approximately $5.7 million at the time. That position is now zero.
Paradoxically, the decision to sell came alongside a strong operational quarter. Genius Group reported Q1 2026 revenue of $3.3 million, a 171% year-on-year increase, and gross profit of $2 million, up 228%. The company transformed from a $500,000 operating loss in Q1 2025 to a net profit of $2.7 million in the most recent quarter. The proceeds from the Bitcoin sale were directed toward debt reduction, potentially strengthening its balance sheet amid the market downturn.
A Wave of Corporate Bitcoin Liquidation in 2026
Genius Group is part of a discernible trend among publicly traded companies with Bitcoin treasuries, many of which have opted to reduce holdings in early 2026. This trend is often attributed to the need for liquidity, debt management, or strategic reallocation during a prolonged bear market.
Notable sales include:
- MARA Holdings: In March 2026, the mining giant sold 15,133 BTC for approximately $1.1 billion. The proceeds were used to repurchase around $1 billion of its convertible senior notes, with the remainder for general corporate purposes. This sale reduced its holdings to 38,689 BTC, moving it to the third-largest corporate treasury position.
- Bitdeer: The Bitcoin mining company liquidated its entire corporate stash of 943 BTC in February 2026, selling both existing holdings and newly mined coins, resulting in zero corporate BTC.
- Cango Inc. & GD Culture Group: Other miners and tech firms, including Cango Inc. (sale of 4,451 BTC) and GD Culture Group (authorized sale of part of its 7,500 BTC treasury), have also confirmed significant reductions.
Data tracking corporate Bitcoin holdings, such as that from the Bitcoin Treasuries index, reflects this contraction across the sector, with total corporate holdings showing a net decline in the first months of 2026.
Strategy’s Lone Buying Spree Contrasts the Trend
Amid this widespread liquidation, one major player has decisively bucked the trend: Michael Saylor’s Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy). The firm, which holds the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin treasury, has continued its aggressive accumulation strategy throughout 2026, effectively dominating corporate BTC purchases.
According to analytics from outlets like BitcoinMiningStock, “Strip out Strategy, and the rest of the ecosystem’s buying pace has collapsed.” This highlights how a single entity’s activity has skewed overall market metrics.
Strategy’s most recent purchase was 1,031 BTC on March 23, 2026. Year-to-date, it has acquired 89,581 BTC, worth roughly $6.1 billion at current market prices, as tracked by the Saylor Tracker. This steadfast accumulation, funded through debt offerings and stock sales, stands in stark contrast to the risk-off sentiment driving other corporations to de-risk their balance sheets.
The divergence in strategies—between Genius Group’s debt-fueled exit and Strategy’s leveraged accumulation—illustrates the vastly different risk appetites and financial strategies being employed by corporate entities in the volatile cryptocurrency space. While some view Bitcoin as a strategic treasury asset to hold through cycles, others are treating it as a liquid asset to be deployed for immediate corporate needs during a downturn.
