Bitcoin Plunge Batters Strategy's STRC Financing Vehicle, Stoking Ponzi Scheme Debate

MicroStrategy, now known as Strategy, has raised funds by issuing STRC perpetual preferred stock and used the proceeds to add to its Bitcoin holdings. Investors have relied primarily on dividends and the shares’ $100 par value to underpin confidence. When Bitcoin fell to about $73,000, STRC dropped below $99, raising concerns about whether the company could continue raising capital, paying dividends and maintaining its Bitcoin treasury strategy.

As of July 19, 2026, STRC had extended its decline from below $99 to $75. It had also traded at $88–$89 during the period, while its annualized dividend yield rose to about 11.5%. Strategy’s latest cash reserves were estimated to cover about 10 months of dividends, up from roughly six months previously, but the widening discount showed that retail investor confidence continued to weaken.

Strategy launched STRC, a floating-rate perpetual preferred stock, in July 2025 with a par value of $100 to raise funds for expanding its Bitcoin holdings. Its dividend rate is adjusted monthly to keep the market price close to par. Although STRC ranks ahead of common stock for repayment, it remains exposed to risks tied to Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings, financing and dividend coverage. Its sharp discount to par is now testing its positioning as a stable income investment.

STRC closed at $91.79 on June 16, 2026, an 8.2% discount to its $100 par value and its third-lowest close since listing in July 2025, implying an annualized yield of 12.53%. Bitcoin was trading at about $65,000 at the time. After Strategy repaid $1.5 billion of convertible debt, its cash dividend coverage fell from 24 months to seven months. The same day, Strive’s SATA began paying daily dividends at a 13% annual rate while trading at $99.99, further drawing income-focused capital away from STRC.

Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, has raised funds by issuing perpetual preferred stock STRC to expand its bitcoin holdings, closely linking the company's securities, leveraged financing and the crypto market. After STRC fell below its $100-per-share benchmark, investors grew concerned that its fundraising capacity and dividend commitments could come under pressure. The preferred stock's price swings have therefore become a key gauge of confidence in Strategy's creditworthiness and bitcoin strategy.

On June 18, STRC fell to its lowest level since issuance, subjecting highly leveraged investors to margin calls and forced liquidations. Strive's CEO stressed that the sharp declines in STRC and SATA stemmed from leveraged liquidations rather than deteriorating credit. The selling subsequently spread to the cryptocurrency market, briefly driving bitcoin down to about $62,000, while DeFi and smart-contract tokens also led losses.