Bitcoin Miners Pivot to AI: Core Scientific and MARA Signal Bigger BTC Sales Ahead

Several of the world’s largest Bitcoin mining companies have indicated they plan to increase their Bitcoin sales and pivot their focus to artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing.

Core Scientific, a leading US-based Bitcoin miner, filed a document with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Monday, indicating that it plans to “monetize substantially all of [its] Bitcoin holdings,” to fund its AI transition. The firm said that most of its Bitcoin sales are expected to take place in Q1 of 2026.

Currently, Core Scientific holds less than 1,000 Bitcoin, according to the firm’s CEO Jim Nygar, having sold over 1,900 BTC in January for US$175 million (AU$249m). 

Likewise, MARA Holdings, the world’s largest Bitcoin miner by BTC holdings, has signalled similar plans to liquidate its BTC. In the past, MARA Holdings had held all the Bitcoin it mined as a long-term investment. In 2025 though, the company shifted strategy and began selling some of the BTC it mined — it sold about US$413 million (AU$586m) worth throughout the second half of that year.

According to a document MARA filed with the SEC, the firm now looks set to offload not just some of the Bitcoin it mines, but also some of the Bitcoin it holds on its balance sheet.

“In 2026, we further revised the strategy to allow for the sale of Bitcoin held on our balance sheet, in addition to current production,” the firm said.

Similar to Core Scientific, MARA’s reason for liquidating more of its Bitcoin supply appears to be to fund a pivot into AI.

While Bitcoin mining remains the foundation of our platform, we have expanded our footprint in energy generation and are investing in research and development to establish a presence in AI and adjacent markets, creating additional revenue opportunities over the long term.

MARA Holdings

Part of MARA’s pivot might be explained by its plummeting share price, which dropped by over 40% from October to February, mirroring Bitcoin’s price drop in the wake of the October 2025 liquidation cascade and ensuing bear market. Following the announcement of its plans to pivot to AI in late February, MARA’s share price spiked by 15%.

Related: Bitcoin’s 50% Plunge Puts Miners Under Severe Cost Pressure

More Miners Looking to Offload Bitcoin, While Trump-Linked American Bitcoin Doubles Down

Several other Bitcoin miners have also been offloading their Bitcoin holdings recently, including Cango, which sold 4,451 BTC in February to fund its transition to AI infrastructure. Also in February, the former Bitcoin mining firm Bitfarms announced it’ll be rebranding to Keel Infrastructure and ending its Bitcoin mining operation completely. It will instead focus on high-performance computing and AI infrastructure.

However, one Bitcoin mining firm appears to be staying the course — the Trump family-linked American Bitcoin Corp. According to a March 3 announcement from the company, it’ll be adding an additional 11,298 Bitcoin miners to its existing fleet of 89,242, which the company claims will add “an incremental ~3.05 exahash per second (“EH/s”) at an efficiency of ~13.5 joules per terahash (“J/TH”).”

Related: Solo Bitcoin Miner Turns $75 in Rented Hashrate Into $200,000 Block Reward

The company’s co-founder and son of Donald Trump, Eric Trump, said that “the priority is clear: grow American-owned, professionally operated hashrate.” He added, “that’s how we protect the network, drive innovation, and lead the future of Bitcoin in America.”