Empery Digital, a Nasdaq-listed bitcoin treasury company trading as EMPD, sold 1,400 bitcoin worth approximately $87.1 million to fund a stake in an AI data center, pay down debt, and cover l
Empery Digital, a Nasdaq-listed bitcoin treasury company trading as EMPD, sold 1,400 bitcoin worth approximately $87.1 million to fund a stake in an AI data center, pay down debt, and cover legal and operating expenses.
The company disclosed the sales in a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 10, 2026. Since May 7, 2026, Empery sold 1,400 BTC at an average price of $62,200 per coin, generating approximately $87.1 million in gross proceeds. For related coverage, see Bonzo, a Hedera lending protocol, hit by $9 million oracle exploit.
Bitcoin Sold 1,400 BTC Empery Digital disclosed the sale volume in its July 10, 2026 Form 8-K.The 1,400 BTC sale represented roughly 48% of Empery's prior bitcoin holdings. At an average exit price of $62,200 per BTC, the company raised about $87.1 million before expenses. For related coverage, see Brad Garlinghouse Says Ripple Nearly Shut Down After SEC Suit.
Gross Proceeds $87.1 million That filing says the sales funded debt reduction, property-acquisition cash needs, legal costs, and operations.Empery said proceeds were used to repay $10 million of outstanding debt on July 7, 2026. Additional funds went toward a previously announced property acquisition, elevated legal expenses tied to stockholder litigation, and ongoing operations.
On June 30, 2026, Empery had announced a $65 million investment for a 25% ownership stake in a private entity acquiring a Midwest facility to be converted into an AI data center. That deal was the "previously announced property acquisition" the filing referenced.
Before the $10 million repayment, Empery carried $55 million on its debt facility. As of July 10, 2026, the outstanding balance stood at $45 million. Reducing that debt lowers interest costs and gives the company more headroom if it needs to borrow again.
Empery still held 1,514 BTC and approximately $73.9 million in cash as of the filing date. The combination of remaining bitcoin, cash, and reduced debt gives the company a materially different risk profile than it had before the sales began in May.
The $65 million AI data center investment is the largest single capital commitment Empery has disclosed. On July 1, 2026, the company clarified that its funding obligation was limited to that $65 million and that the potential tenant would fund the build-out and operating costs under the contemplated lease structure.
That distinction matters. It caps Empery's downside exposure to the data center while preserving upside from its 25% ownership stake if the facility reaches full capacity.
A bitcoin treasury company selling nearly half its stack to buy into AI infrastructure is a notable shift. The Midwest facility has approximately 150 MW of currently available power capacity, with a load study indicating it could nearly double to approximately 300 MW for AI workloads.
CEO Ryan Lane said the company plans to "continue to allocate capital to similar hyperscaler-anchored opportunities," signaling that the AI data center investment may be a template rather than a one-off.
"Going forward, we plan to continue to allocate capital to similar hyperscaler-anchored opportunities." — Ryan Lane, CEO, Empery Digital
The move echoes a broader pattern among crypto-adjacent companies looking to redeploy digital asset reserves into energy-intensive infrastructure. The overlap between bitcoin mining operations and AI data center power requirements has made such pivots increasingly common, similar to how institutional flows into spot bitcoin ETFs have reshaped how companies think about bitcoin exposure.
According to the June 30 announcement, the $65 million investment was expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. No subsequent filing has confirmed that the transaction has fully closed.
The identity of the prospective tenant and the specific terms of the contemplated lease have not been publicly disclosed.
Empery explicitly tied its bitcoin sales to specific capital needs, not to a directional view on bitcoin's price. The company still holds 1,514 BTC, suggesting it has not abandoned its treasury strategy entirely.
Bitcoin traded at $63,846 at the time of this writing, slightly below Empery's average sale price of $62,200. The crypto Fear and Greed Index sat at 26, indicating a "fear" reading across the broader market.
One company selling bitcoin to fund a specific acquisition does not establish a sector trend. Empery's move was driven by its own balance sheet dynamics, including a $55 million debt facility and a $65 million investment commitment that together exceeded its available cash.
Investors watching for signals from corporate bitcoin holders should note that the sale was structured over roughly two months, starting in May, not executed as a single block trade. That gradual approach minimized market impact and reflected an orderly treasury process.
The company needed cash to fund a $65 million AI data center investment, repay $10 million of debt, cover legal expenses from stockholder litigation, and support ongoing operations.
Empery sold 1,400 BTC at an average price of $62,200 per coin since May 7, 2026.
The gross proceeds of approximately $87.1 million funded debt repayment, a previously announced AI data center property acquisition, legal costs, and general operations.
The $10 million repayment reduced Empery's outstanding debt facility from $55 million to $45 million, lowering its interest burden and improving its borrowing capacity for future needs.
As of July 10, 2026, the company held 1,514 BTC alongside approximately $73.9 million in cash.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making any investment decisions.
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