Empery Digital stock climbs following Bitcoin asset liquidation to finance artificial intelligence facility
Empery Digital's stock price increased on Friday following the company's announcement that it partially financed an artificial intelligence data center venture through the sale of Bitcoin, cutting its cryptocurrency reserves by approximately 50%.
Stock in the Bitcoin treasury firm Empery Digital experienced an uptick on Friday following the company's announcement that it liquidated almost half of its cryptocurrency reserves to support an artificial intelligence data center initiative and reduce outstanding obligations.
Stock in Empery Digital (EMPD) surged 4.2% to reach $3.95 during the opening 35 minutes of Friday's trading session following the firm's disclosure of selling 1,400 Bitcoin (BTC) at an average price of $62,200 per coin, generating approximately $87.1 million throughout the previous two months.
The company, formerly known for manufacturing electric powersports vehicles, announced that a portion of the revenue secured its 25% ownership in a venture associated with Hunt Properties, which is purchasing an industrial property for transformation into an artificial intelligence data center. Additionally, $10 million of the proceeds went toward eliminating outstanding debt obligations.
Although EMPD pulled back to $3.86 — finishing the trading day up 1.58% — the early surge indicates that market participants responded positively to the Bitcoin liquidation during a period when enthusiasm for Bitcoin treasury approaches is waning and investment capital is shifting toward AI opportunities.
The Bitcoin liquidation by Empery comes after several months of advocacy from Tice P. Brown, a shareholder controlling nearly 10% of the company, who urged the organization to discontinue its Bitcoin acquisition approach and insisted that both the CEO and complete board of directors step down. The company had shifted toward a Bitcoin-focused treasury approach in mid-2025 during Bitcoin's climb toward its record high of $126,080 achieved in October.
The cryptocurrency sales reduced Empery's Bitcoin position by 48% down to 1,514 Bitcoin, valued at $97 million based on present market prices.
The company's Bitcoin reserves reached a maximum of 4,081 Bitcoin before divesting portions of its position during March and April.
Strategy sold more BTC after STRC incident
Strategy — the leading corporate Bitcoin holder — also divested 3,588 Bitcoin valued at $216 million during the earlier part of this month, departing from its historical "never sell your Bitcoin" philosophy in a transaction that surprisingly resulted in the company's shares appreciating.
The company indicated that the Bitcoin liquidation proceeds were allocated to satisfy dividend obligations for participants in its premier perpetual preferred stock product, Stretch (STRC), which fell beneath its $100 par value to under $75 during the previous month, sparking concerns regarding the long-term viability of its dividend framework.