MARA dumps Bitcoin to erase a $750M collateral risk

Bitcoin miner MARA Holdings has repaid its $750 million of Bitcoin-backed loans, ending the collateral-liquidation exposure attached to those facilities.

Further coin sales could now serve to build cash for bondholder demands, AI infrastructure, and possible share buybacks.

The company’s Nov. 9 filing disclosed that it sold 13,597 Bitcoin after Sept. 30 for approximately $1.1 billion and used $750 million to repay the loans in full.

Management’s quarterly letter says it intends to use Bitcoin to build cash for AI infrastructure opportunities, convertible-note puts exercisable next year and potential repurchases of its own shares.

Two 2027 dates keep cash in focus

As of Sept. 30, MARA had $291.6 million of June 2031 notes carrying a June 4, 2027 cash-put right, and $632.5 million of March 2030 notes carrying a December 1, 2027 right. Together, those September balances total about $924.1 million.

A cash put lets a bondholder require the company to buy back all or part of the notes for cash at face value, plus any applicable unpaid special interest.

The notes’ contractual maturity dates remain in 2030 and 2031, and the eventual cash bill depends on which holders exercise and how much principal remains outstanding.

A separate obligation of $48 million of notes outstanding at Sept. 30 matures on Dec. 1. The put calendar does not require MARA to sell Bitcoin to meet potential cash demands.

MARA entered the fourth quarter with $946.5 million of cash and equivalents, excluding $12 million of restricted cash. Approximately 11% of that cash was held in euros by its majority-owned subsidiary Exaion and contractually designated for its operations over the next year.

The subsequent Bitcoin sales brought in approximately $350 million more than the loan payoff. Adding that difference to September cash produces a rough $1.3 billion bridge before other cash movements.

MARA also reported about $1.5 billion of unused capacity under its at-the-market share issuance program as of Sept. 30. Management said existing liquidity resources provided flexibility to meet obligations and fund growth over the next twelve months and beyond.

MARA used $642.7 million of cash in operating activities during the first nine months of 2026. Its Bitcoin-sale proceeds are classified as investing cash flows, so the operating outflow alone cannot establish a funding gap after those sales.

Infrastructure and buybacks compete for capital

The planned acquisition of power business Long Ridge remained pending in the Nov. 9 disclosures. Its approximately $1.5 billion enterprise value includes up to about $900 million of assumed debt.

A bridge commitment of up to $785 million supports a portion of that debt if needed, subject to customary conditions.

The data-center development agreement with Starwood includes MARA funds approved for pre-development pursuit costs, with $136.3 million approved across sites and about $17.7 million incurred by Sept. 30.

Site contributions receive value before MARA adds incremental equity, while project financing is expected to be non-recourse.

The HIF site-development project’s price of up to $600 million is tied to post-closing development milestones, with additional payments possible for specified shortfalls.

The board’s Nov. 9 authorization permits up to $500 million of common-share purchases, but requires no particular amount and can be suspended or terminated.

The next meaningful supply signal is MARA’s disclosure of further Bitcoin sales and how it uses the proceeds. Updated cash and remaining note balances will help distinguish preparation for holder puts from optional infrastructure and buyback spending.