Strategy Launches Bitcoin Banking Index, Shares Jump Nearly 6% After Hours

Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy, MSTR) jumped 5.95% after hours on July 14 to $97.58, after unveiling its Bitcoin Banking Index — a benchmark tracking publicly traded companies that hold bitcoin. The move signals that the world’s largest corporate bitcoin holder is stretching beyond pure accumulation into financial infrastructure. During the regular session, MSTR opened at $94.76, hit a high of $98.03, and bottomed at $93.56.^[Reuters]

Bitcoin Sale and Holdings Shift

Just a day before the index launch, Strategy sold 3,588 bitcoin on July 13 for roughly $216 million. That trimmed its total stash to 843,775 coins, still the largest corporate bitcoin hoard globally. According to Kitco, the sale represented just 0.42% of its bitcoin reserves, but analysts warn that regular bitcoin sales to meet liquidity or preferred-stock obligations could gradually erode investor confidence.^[Kitco]

Meanwhile, Singapore-listed bitcoin miner BitFuFu also sold 184 bitcoin on July 13, leaving it with 1,671 coins and ranking 35th on the bitcoin top-100 list.^[Bitget]

Miners Accelerate AI Infrastructure Pivot

Bitcoin miners are collectively pivoting toward artificial intelligence infrastructure. Per HOKANEWS, TeraWulf is seeking $3.5 billion in debt financing, led by Morgan Stanley, to expand its AI data center campus in Kentucky — already leased to AI firm Anthropic. If completed, the deal would rank among the largest financings by a publicly listed crypto miner pivoting to AI.^[HOKANEWS]

CleanSpark (CLSK) recently signed a 20-year triple-net infrastructure lease, renting its Sandersville, Georgia campus to a global tech leader for high-performance computing. A letter of intent also covers the company’s entire Texas power portfolio, suggesting the model could expand to more sites. Simply Wall St notes the 20-year lease shifts some revenue from volatile bitcoin mining output to more predictable contract payments.^{[Simply Wall St]}

Industry Faces Capital Outflows and Regulatory Shifts

Despite individual company moves, the broader crypto industry is still under capital outflow pressure. According to Kitco, U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs saw nearly $40 billion in net outflows in Q2, with BlackRock’s IBIT experiencing notable redemptions in June. Bitcoin fell roughly 14% for the quarter, marking its third consecutive quarterly decline, suggesting institutional investors remain cautious and are rotating capital into sectors like AI.^[Kitco]

On the regulatory front, the SEC is expected to propose “Regulation Crypto” this month, introducing temporary registration exemptions, financing flexibility, and safe-harbor provisions for crypto startups. This would be the first major crypto-specific rulemaking under SEC Chair Paul Atkins, potentially providing a clearer regulatory framework for U.S. digital asset innovation.^[Kitco]

Additionally, Vanguard — one of the world’s largest asset managers — is hiring its first head of digital assets, responsible for cryptocurrency, tokenization, stablecoins, and blockchain strategy. The move is seen as a signal of shifting institutional attitudes toward digital assets, as Vanguard had previously been one of the industry’s most cautious voices.^[Kitco]

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