MARA Transfers $81M in BTC as U.S. Government Moves 17,468 BTC

Key Insights:

• MARA transferred 996.105 BTC worth $81.13 million to Galaxy Digital.
• U.S. government-tracked Bitcoin holdings fell by 17,468 BTC worth $1.44 billion since October 6, leaving 174,481 BTC.
• Bitcoin price technical analysis.

Bitcoin news turned to another large institutional transfer on Oct. 9 after MARA Holdings moved 996.105 BTC worth approximately $81.13 million to Galaxy Digital. The transaction followed several days of large movements from U.S. government-linked Bitcoin wallets.

Neither development proves that the transferred Bitcoin was sold. However, the movements arrived as short-term holders increased exchange deposits and BTC struggled to recover from its latest decline.

Blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain reported that a wallet linked to MARA Holdings moved 996.105 BTC to Galaxy Digital and another associated address. The transfer was worth approximately $81.13 million at the time.

Arkham Intelligence transaction details confirm the movement of Bitcoin between addresses, but they do not establish what happened to the assets afterward. Galaxy Digital provides institutional trading, custody and other financial services, so the transfer could have served purposes other than a direct sale.

MARA reported holding 35,577 BTC at the end of June 2026. The 996 BTC transfer equals roughly 2.8% of that reported balance, although the company’s holdings may have changed since then.

MARA has previously sold Bitcoin and used its holdings in lending arrangements. The company had not provided a transaction-specific explanation in the information available.

CryptoQuant reported that tracked U.S. government Bitcoin holdings fell by 17,468 BTC between October 6 and October 8. The transfers included 569 BTC worth about $48.6 million on October 6 and 4,632 BTC valued at approximately $385.8 million on October 7.

A further 12,267 BTC, worth around $1.01 billion, moved on October 8. Following the Bitcoin news, the tracked government balance stood at 174,481 BTC.

The movements drew attention as Bitcoin lost ground, but transfers do not automatically mean that the government sold its holdings.

CryptoQuant also pointed to high unrealized profits among Bitcoin holders as a factor that may have left the market vulnerable to a pullback. Investors sitting on gains may decide to take profits when prices fall, adding pressure during an already weak trading period.

Short-term holders sent 45,600 BTC to cryptocurrency exchanges in a 24-hour period. Of that amount, 29,100 BTC moved at a loss. The analytics platform described this as the largest loss-related exchange inflow since the consolidation period before June’s rally.

The Bitcoin news suggests that more recent buyers are moving BTC onto exchanges while the market remains under pressure. Such transfers can precede selling, but deposits alone do not prove that holders have completed transactions.

CryptoQuant identified $74,600 as the Short-Term Holder Realized Price, which represents the average acquisition price for the group under its methodology. The level provides a reference point for assessing how recent buyers are positioned relative to the market.

According to CryptoQuant, Bitcoin holding above $74,600 would preserve the current early bull-market structure. A sustained move below that level could increase the risk of a deeper correction.

Bitcoin traded near $82,500 after falling from approximately $85,578 on October 6. The cryptocurrency closed October 8 at around $81,706 after reaching an intraday low near $80,514.

The wider cryptocurrency market also recorded more than $1 billion in liquidations over 24 hours, according to CoinGlass data. Long positions accounted for about $935 million, including roughly $220 million in Bitcoin long liquidations.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Blockchain transfers do not confirm asset sales, while Bitcoin prices and technical levels may change as market conditions evolve.

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