Bitcoin Mining Giant Abandons Full-Hold Strategy, Unloads $40M In Crypto

Christian Encila

5 months ago

3 mins read

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Riot Platforms sold 475 Bitcoin worth $38.8 million in December as profit margins narrow throughout the mining sector. The Colorado firm, the second-largest publicly traded Bitcoin miner by market capitalization, sold the cryptocurrency at an average price of $81,731 per coin, Monday’s operations update disclosed.

Mining Profits Narrow Following Bitcoin Halving Event

The sell-off follows a year since Bitcoin’s fourth halving event, where mining rewards were halved. Miners now get 3.125 Bitcoin per block, down from 6.25, in a pre-programmed cut that happens every four years or so. The self-adjusting cut has tightened margins for mining operations that depend on a continuous stream of new tokens to pay for increasing expenses.

Riot Platforms mined 463 Bitcoin last April, decreasing by 13% from the prior month though it sustained the same level of computing power. The firm tapped the remaining 12 Bitcoin from reserves for finishing the sale.

Source: Riot Platforms

CEO Defends Strategy As ‘Reducing’ Shareholder Dilution

Throughout April, Riot said it made the strategic choice to sell its monthly production of bitcoin to finance continued growth and operations, Riot CEO Jason Les stated in the update. Les said selling Bitcoin lessens the company’s need to raise money by issuing new shares, which would dilute current shareholders’ ownership stakes.

Riot Announces April 2025 Production and Operations Updates.

“Riot mined 463 bitcoin in April as the network experienced two successive difficulty adjustments during the month,” said @JasonLes_, CEO of Riot. “April was a significant month for Riot as we closed on the acquisition… pic.twitter.com/0cSznh5fBM

— Riot Platforms, Inc. (@RiotPlatforms) May 5, 2025

Even with the sell-off, Riot retains 19,211 Bitcoin on its balance sheet. That stash is valued at about $1.8 billion at current prices, demonstrating the company has substantial cryptocurrency holdings even as it sells some to cash out.

Mining Difficulty Increases As Competition Heats Up

The problems that Riot is experiencing are reflective of wider trends in Bitcoin mining. The difficulty level of the network, a measure of how difficult it is to mine new Bitcoin, was nearly a whopping 120 trillion hashes as of May 4. That’s a 35% increase from last year, according to CoinWarz data.

BTC is now trading at $93,946. Chart: TradingView

As more miners vie for the same diminished payouts, each operation must increase electricity and equipment expenses in order to receive Bitcoin. This competition has constricted margins throughout the industry, compelling businesses to reassess their cash management practices.

Source: Statista

While Bitcoin has gained 45% in value over the past year and most recently traded over $95,000, it remains below its January peak of $109,000. This price retreat has further pressured mining companies already dealing with higher costs and lower production.

Riot’s move underscores the tightrope Bitcoin miners walk: they have to balance short-term cash requirements with speculation on the future price tag of the most popular cryptocurrency. For the time being, at least one large player is opting for cash upfront over future potential.

Featured image from Riot Platforms, chart from TradingView

Christian Encila

They say journalists never truly clock out. But for Christian, that's not just a metaphor, it's a lifestyle. By day, he navigates the ever-shifting tides of the cryptocurrency market, wielding words like a seasoned editor and crafting articles that decipher the jargon for the masses. When the PC goes on hibernate mode, however, his pursuits take a more mechanical (and sometimes philosophical) turn.

Christian's journey with the written word began long before the age of Bitcoin. In the hallowed halls of academia, he honed his craft as a feature writer for his college paper. This early love for storytelling paved the way for a successful stint as an editor at a data engineering firm, where his first-month essay win funded a months-long supply of doggie and kitty treats – a testament to his dedication to his furry companions (more on that later).

Christian then roamed the world of journalism, working at newspapers in Canada and even South Korea. He finally settled down at a local news giant in his hometown in the Philippines for a decade, becoming a total news junkie. But then, something new caught his eye: cryptocurrency. It was like a treasure hunt mixed with storytelling - right up his alley!

So, he landed a killer gig at NewsBTC, where he's one of the go-to guys for all things crypto. He breaks down this confusing stuff into bite-sized pieces, making it easy for anyone to understand (he salutes his management team for teaching him this skill).

Think Christian's all work and no play? Not a chance! When he's not at his computer, you'll find him indulging his passion for motorbikes. A true gearhead, Christian loves tinkering with his bike and savoring the joy of the open road on his 320-cc Yamaha R3. Once a speed demon who hit 120mph (a feat he vowed never to repeat), he now prefers leisurely rides along the coast, enjoying the wind in his thinning hair.

Speaking of chill, Christian's got a crew of furry friends waiting for him at home. Two cats and a dog. He swears cats are way smarter than dogs (sorry, Grizzly), but he adores them all anyway. Apparently, watching his pets just chillin’ helps him analyze and write meticulously formatted articles even better.

Here's the thing about this guy: He works a lot, but he keeps himself fueled by enough coffee to make it through the day - and some seriously delicious (Filipino) food. He says a delectable meal is the secret ingredient to a killer article. And after a long day of crypto crusading, he unwinds with some rum (mixed with milk) while watching slapstick movies.

Looking ahead, Christian sees a bright future with NewsBTC. He says he sees himself privileged to be part of an awesome organization, sharing his expertise and passion with a community he values, and fellow editors - and bosses - he deeply respects.

So, the next time you tread into the world of cryptocurrency, remember the man behind the words – the crypto crusader, the grease monkey, and the feline philosopher, all rolled into one.

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