MARA Holdings made a strategic move in production and reserve management with the aim of providing returns to its shareholders by allocating 7,377 BTC, equivalent to 16.4% of its total reserves, to short-term loans.
Bitcoin mining giant MARA Holdings announced in its December 2024 production report that it has allocated 7,377 BTC, equivalent to 16.4% of its total Bitcoin reserves, to short-term third-party loans. The company aims to provide “modest single-digit returns” to its shareholders with this move.
Robert Samuels, MARA’s vice president of investor relations, said the loan program is active through 2024 and focuses on short-term deals with trusted third parties. However, the identities of the borrowers were not disclosed. The company’s initiative aims to offset operational costs and increase long-term shareholder value.
Bitcoin reserves
Throughout 2024, MARA purchased 22,065 BTC at an average price of $87,205, while mining 9,457 BTC. The company’s total Bitcoin reserves reached 44,893 BTC, exceeding $4.4 billion at current prices. The company also exceeded its target of 50 EH/s in 2024, reaching a hash rate of 53.2 EH/s. However, due to a “small decrease in the luck factor” in mining, there was a 2% decrease in BTC production compared to November.
MARA CEO Fred Thiel stated that the hybrid model, which combines mining and acquisition activities, increases the company’s flexibility. Thiel stated that this strategy offers the opportunity to acquire Bitcoin at attractive prices and strengthens long-term shareholder value.
While MARA’s short-term credit strategy is considered a step towards balancing operational costs, it is thought that this approach could set an example for other mining companies in the sector.
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