Public Companies Are Stacking Bitcoin—So Why Is Crypto Crashing?

Yoshi Ae

Despite Corporate Accumulation, BTC Falls Below $78K as Market Jitters Continue

Key Takeaways

  • Public companies purchased 91,781 BTC in Q1 2025, led by Strategy and Tether.
  • Despite this, BTC fell over 25% from its all-time high due to long-term holder sell-offs and ETF redemptions.
  • Trump’s tariffs are fueling economic uncertainty, leading to market-wide sell pressure.
  • Crypto markets remain vulnerable, but corporate accumulation points to long-term confidence in Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Accumulation Hits New Highs, Yet Prices Dip

Public companies are making aggressive moves into Bitcoin—but despite this bullish activity, prices are trending lower. In Q1 2025, leading corporations including Tether and Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) collectively purchased over 91,000 BTC, according to data from CryptoQuant.

Still, Bitcoin’s price has dropped sharply from its all-time high of nearly $110,000, now sitting below $78,000—a 25% decline. This contradiction raises a pressing question: If major players are buying, why is the market down?


Who’s Buying Bitcoin—and Why?

According to on-chain data, Tether added 8,888 BTC to its reserves in Q1 2025, bringing its total holdings to over 100,000 BTC, per Arkham data. Tether’s strategy seems defensive: holding Bitcoin as a reserve asset alongside U.S. Treasuries and cash equivalents, potentially to act as a buffer in case of a USDT depeg event.

But Tether is not alone.

  • Strategy purchased an eye-popping 81,785 BTC, using debt financing to reinforce its already massive position.
  • Other notable purchases include:
    • Blockchain Company – 605 BTC
    • Semler Scientific – 1,108 BTC
    • Metaplanet – 2,285 BTC

Additionally, Marathon Digital, a leading Bitcoin mining firm, is set to raise $2 billion through a stock sale to acquire more BTC. Even GameStop, in a surprising pivot, plans to raise $1.3 billion via convertible notes maturing in 2030—also intended for crypto exposure.

These moves underscore one thing: corporate faith in Bitcoin’s long-term future remains strong.


So Why Is Bitcoin Falling?

Despite this wave of institutional accumulation, Bitcoin remains under pressure—and there’s a clear explanation. According to CryptoQuant, long-term holders (often referred to as “diamond hands”) offloaded over 178,000 BTC in the same period.

This selling activity dwarfed corporate buys and contributed significantly to Bitcoin’s slide from $109,000 to $77,000.

Additionally:

  • Institutional investors redeemed an estimated $4.8 billion in spot Bitcoin ETF shares, further adding to downward pressure.
  • These profit-taking moves have intensified selling across the crypto market.

External Factors Weigh on Crypto

The broader macroeconomic environment is also rattling investor confidence.

On April 2, 2025 (Liberation Day), President Donald Trump announced a new round of tariffs targeting global trade partners, including key U.S. allies. The move has triggered fears of escalating trade wars and economic instability.

As markets digest this news, volatility has increased—and crypto assets, often treated as risk-on investments, are absorbing the brunt of the fallout.

Within 24 hours of the announcement:

  • The top 10 cryptocurrencies posted double-digit losses.
  • Meme coins and altcoins were hit particularly hard, threatening liquidity and sentiment across the board.

Conclusion: A Bullish Trend Amid a Bearish Market

While public companies continue to accumulate Bitcoin, the market is under strain from profit-taking, ETF outflows, and macroeconomic headwinds. These conflicting forces make the current environment difficult to navigate for both retail and institutional investors.

In the short term, volatility is likely to remain elevated, especially as geopolitical developments unfold. But long-term believers may view this as an opportunity in disguise, as the foundation of corporate BTC ownership continues to grow.


Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not financial advice. Always do your own research (DYOR) before investing in cryptocurrencies.

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