Riot Platforms, one of the largest publicly listed Bitcoin mining companies in the United States, disclosed on January 6, 2025, that it sold 1,818 BTC in December 2025, marking the largest single-month Bitcoin sale in the company’s history.
NEW: Riot Platforms sold 1,818 Bitcoin ($161M) in December 2025, reducing its holdings to 18,005 BTC (~$1.7B). pic.twitter.com/FjmxCmYn2Z
— Bitcoin News (@BitcoinNewsCom) January 7, 2026
The Castle Rock, Colorado–based firm reported that the Bitcoin sold was worth approximately $161.6 million, reflecting ongoing pressure on miners amid declining profitability across the crypto mining sector.
Riot Platforms Sells Over $160 Million in Bitcoin Amid Mining Headwinds
Riot Platforms operates large-scale Bitcoin mining facilities in central Texas and Kentucky, with additional engineering and manufacturing operations in Denver and Houston. Bitcoin mining involves validating transactions and adding new blocks to the blockchain using specialized high-performance computing equipment, with miners rewarded in newly issued BTC.
However, industry conditions have grown increasingly challenging. Reduced block rewards and rising operational costs have eroded margins, prompting miners to liquidate holdings to support operations.
A key metric reflecting these pressures is hash price, which measures the revenue miners earn per unit of computing power. Hash price is influenced by Bitcoin’s market price, network difficulty, block subsidies, and transaction fees. Over the past three months, hash price has fallen sharply, aligning with Riot’s decision to execute its largest-ever monthly BTC sale.
China Launches Review of $2 Billion AI Acquisition Over Bitcoin Links
Separately, Chinese authorities are reportedly scrutinizing a $2 billion acquisition involving U.S. tech company Meta and artificial intelligence platform Manus, according to the Financial Times.
China reviews Meta’s $2bn purchase of AI start-up Manus
Chinese officials are reviewing Meta’s $2bn acquisition of AI platform Manus for potential export control violations, assessing whether relocating Manus’s staff and technology to Singapore required a Chinese export… https://t.co/GQSL2wuFzE pic.twitter.com/sBmRLNpLft— CN Wire (@Sino_Market) January 7, 2026
China’s Ministry of Commerce has launched an initial review of the deal, reportedly due to concerns surrounding Bitcoin investments by the founder of Manus. The transaction has drawn attention under China’s export control framework, particularly as Manus is said to have relocated personnel and technology operations to Singapore.
The review is examining whether such transfers require export licenses under Chinese law. Sources cited by the report note that the investigation remains in its early stages and may not escalate into a formal enforcement action.
Bitcoin Holdings Under Regulatory Spotlight
Blockchain analytics data indicates that Manus founder Xiao Hong currently holds 0.0223 BTC, valued at approximately $2,068, according to Arkham Intelligence. While the amount is relatively small, the disclosure underscores how Bitcoin ownership can attract regulatory scrutiny in jurisdictions with strict crypto policies.
China has maintained one of the world’s toughest stances on cryptocurrencies, including bans on Bitcoin trading and mining. The latest review highlights the ongoing tension between global technology investment, digital assets, and national regulatory frameworks.
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