Bitcoin News Today: Marathon's Bitcoin Hoard Hits $6.1B as Institutional Gold Rush Accelerates

Bitcoin mining giant Marathon Digital Holdings (NASDAQ: MARA) has further bolstered its corporate treasury, purchasing an additional 400 Bitcoin (BTC) valued at approximately $46.3 million. The acquisition, executed through institutional trading platform FalconX, brings Marathon's total holdings to 52,850 BTC, currently valued at $6.12 billion. The move underscores the company's aggressive strategy to accumulate Bitcoin during periods of market turbulence, aligning with broader institutional trends of treating BTC as a long-term store of value.

The purchase occurred amid a sharp market downturn earlier this week, triggered by renewed U.S.-China tariff tensions. Bitcoin briefly fell below $103,000 before recovering to trade near $114,800 by October 13. Marathon's timing reflects confidence in Bitcoin's resilience, with blockchain analysts noting the miner's deliberate execution of the buy during the recovery phase. The company now ranks as the second-largest public holder of Bitcoin, trailing only MicroStrategy, which holds 640,031 BTC valued at roughly $77 billion.

Marathon's strategic accumulation is part of a larger trend: institutional demand for Bitcoin has surged in 2025, with global ETPs and public companies collectively acquiring 944,330 BTC year-to-date-exceeding 2024's total. The company's stock, however, has mirrored Bitcoin's volatility. MARA shares closed at $18.64 on October 10, down 7.75% for the day, though they rebounded 2.66% in after-hours trading to $19.13.

The recent purchase follows Marathon's September performance, during which it mined 736 BTC-a 4.4% increase from August-while its share of total Bitcoin block rewards reached 5.2%. Operational capacity has also expanded to 60.4 EH/s, supported by its Texas wind-powered mining facility. In August, Marathon announced plans to acquire a 64% stake in French AI and high-performance computing firm Exaion for $168 million, signaling a diversification strategy beyond pure Bitcoin mining.

Marathon's appetite for Bitcoin is further fueled by its $2 billion at-the-market stock offering, announced in March 2025, to fund additional acquisitions and operational needs. While this approach mirrors MicroStrategy's playbook, it carries risks, including shareholder dilution and exposure to Bitcoin's price swings. The company currently holds 46,376 BTC, a 170% increase in value since early 2024.

Broader market dynamics reinforce institutional confidence. Bitcoin's global hashrate grew 9% in September to 1,031 EH/s, and Marathon's mining output rose 5% month-over-month. Meanwhile, Binance reported a 40% surge in institutional interest in Bitcoin ETFs, with stablecoin inflows reaching record levels. Analysts attribute Marathon's and peers' buying sprees to macroeconomic factors, including dovish Federal Reserve signals and softening inflation forecasts.

Despite short-term volatility, Marathon CEO Fred Thiel has emphasized Bitcoin's long-term potential, advising investors to adopt a dollar-cost averaging approach. The company's stock, however, remains under pressure, trading at $19.13 as of October 13-well below its 52-week high of $24.

[1] Marathon Digital Adds 400 BTC, Holdings Hit 52,850 BTC (https://www.cryptotimes.io/2025/10/13/marathon-digital-adds-400-btc-holdings-hit-52850-btc/)

[2] Bitcoin Mining Giant Marathon Digital (MARA) Buys 400 BTC ... (https://coincentral.com/bitcoin-mining-giant-marathon-digital-mara-buys-400-btc-during-market-crash/)

[3] Marathon Digital to Sell $2 Billion in Stock to Buy Bitcoin (https://beincrypto.com/marathon-2-billion-stock-offering-bitcoin/)

[4] Marathon Digital Adds 400 BTC in $46 Million Buy Amid Post ... (https://hodlfm.com/bitcoin/marathon-digital-adds-400-btc/)

[5] Bitcoin Market Sees Renewed Investor Confidence Driven by ... (https://coinlive.me/bitcoin-market-institutional-inflows-2025/)

[8] Why Institutional Bitcoin Demand Exploded In 2025 (https://bitcoinmagazine.com/markets/institutional-bitcoin-demand-explodes-in-2025-7x-more-btc-bought-than-mined)