Michael Saylor's Vicious Circle: How the Falling Stock Price of STRC Hinders the Company's Bitcoin Purchases

cryptonews.ruPublished on 2026-08-03Last updated on 2026-08-03

Abstract

Strategy (STRC) maintained its 12% dividend on preferred shares in August, despite the stock trading significantly below its $100 nominal value. Chairman Michael Saylor announced this via social media, noting this is the second month of twice-monthly dividend payments approved by shareholders in June. While CEO Phong Le reiterated the goal of lifting STRC's price back to the $99-$100 range, Saylor hinted at further Bitcoin purchases as usual. However, the company faces a challenging cycle. It reported a Q2 2026 net loss of $8.22 billion, largely due to an $8.32 billion unrealized loss on its Bitcoin holdings amid falling crypto prices. To support its preferred dividend payments, Strategy established a $3.75 billion reserve, which it says is sufficient for over two years of obligations. The company also continues to buy back its preferred shares at a discount while they trade below $100. A key technical constraint emerges: when STRC's price falls below par, the company's mechanism suspends issuing new shares via the exchange. This limits a key channel for raising funds to buy more Bitcoin, creating a feedback loop where the low stock price hinders the company's ability to replenish reserves and buy back shares, potentially slowing its Bitcoin accumulation strategy. Market observers question how long the paused dividend hikes will be seen as confidence rather than caution.

Strategy kept the dividend on its STRC preferred shares at 12% in August, although the shares ended July significantly below the nominal value of $100. Previously, holders had received increased payouts in precisely such a situation — when the share price remained significantly below par for a month.

Executive Chairman of Strategy, Michael Saylor, announced this in a post on social network X. August will be the second month where dividends are paid twice a month — a procedure approved by shareholders in June.

STRC shares closed last week at $89.46, showing a price increase of 5.42% for the month, which began with a 50-basis-point dividend hike to 12% following weak performance of the shares in June. Trading volume of the shares on Nasdaq on Friday was about two-thirds of the average daily volume.

Strategy CEO Phong Le reiterated that the corporate goal is to bring STRC quotes into the $99–100 range in the future, without specifying when investors can expect this.

Reserve for Preferred Share Payments

Meanwhile, Saylor hinted at another Bitcoin purchase — the post "Bitcoin Drive engaged" was accompanied by the usual chart of Strategy's $BTC purchases from Saylortracker.com, which he traditionally uses to open the week.

Last week, Strategy reported a net loss for the second quarter of 2026 of $8.22 billion, which was primarily due to an unrealized loss of $8.32 billion on its Bitcoin position as the cryptocurrency's price declined during the quarter.

The company stated that it has formed a reserve of $3.75 billion to support payments on preferred shares after launching the $BTC monetization program.

Strategy also reported that this $3.75 billion cash reserve is sufficient to cover more than two years of preferred dividend payments and interest obligations. The company recently repurchased $25 million worth of STRC preferred shares at a discount to par and stated its intention to continue repurchasing shares while their price remains below $100.

AI Opinion

From the perspective of machine data analysis, the STRC dividend rate history contains an important precedent. Since its launch in July 2025, the rate moved only upward — from 9% to 11.5% over nine months, but from April to June 2026, the company already kept the rate unchanged despite the falling share price, which drew criticism from the market (data). The current pause at 12% repeats the same behavioral pattern.

A technical nuance remained outside the article: the STRC mechanism is designed as a self-regulating system — when the price falls below par, Strategy suspends the program for issuing new shares via the exchange, which limits one of the channels for replenishing the reserve for Bitcoin purchases. This creates a vicious circle: the share price affects issuance, issuance affects the reserve, and the reserve affects the company's ability to repurchase shares at a discount.

How long the market will accept pauses in the rate as a sign of confidence rather than restraint is an open question.

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Related Questions

QWhat is the current dividend rate for STRC preferred shares in August, and how does it compare to the previous situation when the share price was below par value?

AThe dividend rate for STRC preferred shares remains at 12% in August. Previously, holders received an increase in dividends when the share price stayed significantly below the nominal value for a month, but this pattern has changed as the company is now maintaining the rate despite the price being below par.

QWhat corporate goal did Strategy's CEO, Phong Le, reiterate regarding the STRC share price, and what details were missing?

APhong Le reiterated that the corporate goal is to bring the STRC share price into the $99–100 range. He did not specify when investors can expect this target to be achieved.

QWhat was the main reason for Strategy's reported net loss in Q2 2026, and what was the specific financial impact?

AThe main reason for Strategy's net loss of $8.22 billion in Q2 2026 was an unrealized loss of $8.32 billion on its Bitcoin position, due to the decrease in the cryptocurrency's price during the quarter.

QWhat financial reserve has Strategy created, and what is its stated purpose according to the article?

AStrategy has created a reserve of $3.75 billion. Its stated purpose is to support payments on preferred shares following the launch of its BTC monetization program, and it is deemed sufficient to cover more than two years of preferred dividend and interest obligations.

QAccording to the article's 'AI Opinion' section, what is the 'closed loop' or self-regulating mechanism of the STRC system, and how does it affect the company's Bitcoin purchases?

AThe self-regulating mechanism of the STRC system is that when the share price falls below par value, Strategy suspends its program of issuing new shares via the exchange. This limits one of the channels for replenishing the reserve used to buy Bitcoin, creating a closed loop: the share price affects issuance, issuance affects the reserve, and the reserve affects the company's ability to buy back shares at a discount.

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