Empery Sells 1,400 BTC (~$87M) to Cover Debt and Legal Costs

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Empery trims Bitcoin hoard to plug holes in balance sheet Nasdaq-listed Empery has sold 1,400 BTC for roughly $87.1 million between May 7 and July 10, the company disclosed, as it leans on crypto reserves to address debt and operational needs rather than to grow its digital-asset treasury. The disposals averaged about $62,200 per Bitcoin and left Empery with 1,514 BTC and roughly $73.9 million in cash as of July 10. Company filings show the gross proceeds are being directed to multiple immediate priorities: repaying debt, financing a previously announced property acquisition, covering legal costs tied to ongoing stockholder litigation, and supporting general corporate operations. As part of that push, Empery made a $10 million debt repayment on July 7. The company said about $45 million still remains outstanding under its debt facility. These sales follow an earlier round this year in which Empery sold 722 BTC for roughly $50 million between Jan. 1 and March 25, 2026 — and reiterated a prior warning that future bitcoin sales could affect its financial results. The move marks a retreat from the accumulation strategy Empery set out in August 2025 (when it operated as Volcon), when it reported holding more than 4,018 BTC and positioned itself as a “low-cost, capital-efficient Bitcoin aggregator.” Instead of adding to reserves, Empery is now monetizing part of its treasury to meet short-term liabilities and shore up liquidity. Empery’s approach contrasts with other public Bitcoin holders that are taking divergent paths depending on balance-sheet pressures. For example: - Nakamoto Inc. sold roughly 600 BTC and used Bitcoin-linked derivative positions to generate about $48 million in net proceeds, which it used to cut outstanding debt by around $45 million, refinance borrowings into 2027 and lower financing costs — while retaining about 4,467 BTC (company figures). - Capital B moved in the opposite direction by seeking large-scale funding to expand its holdings. In June, shareholders approved a financing framework authorizing up to €5 billion in new equity and €100 billion in credit instruments, a structure that would let the firm issue a vast number of new shares and borrow to buy more BTC, according to board director of Bitcoin Strategy Alexandre Laizet. Empery’s recent disclosures underscore a broader dynamic in the public-Bitcoin space: firms without surplus liquidity may be forced to trim positions to satisfy debt and legal obligations, while better-capitalized peers continue to pursue growth or refinancing strategies to preserve or expand their crypto treasuries.

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