MSTR vs. MARA: The Smarter Bitcoin Investment?
Hodl or Mine? Why Strategy Is Winning the Bitcoin Race
Bitcoin Boom: Why Strategy (MSTR) Is Beating MARA
MSTR vs. MARA: Which Bitcoin Stock Has the Edge?
Investors looking to gain exposure to Bitcoin (BTC) through stocks have two distinct options: Strategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) and MARA Holdings (NASDAQ: MARA). While Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) is the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, MARA (formerly Marathon Digital) is the largest Bitcoin miner.
Over the past 12 months, Strategy’s stock has soared over 370%, while MARA’s has dropped nearly 35%, despite Bitcoin rallying 90% in the same period. Let’s explore why Strategy outperformed MARA and whether it remains the better long-term Bitcoin investment.
MSTR vs. MARA: Two Different Approaches to Bitcoin
For years, Strategy was a sluggish software company struggling to compete with cloud giants like Salesforce and Microsoft. But in 2020, it took a bold turn—hoarding Bitcoin instead.
By January 12, 2025, Strategy had 450,000 BTC, purchased at an average price of $62,691 per Bitcoin.
This $28.2 billion investment is now worth $43.5 billion, representing 47% of its $91.6 billion enterprise value.
Strategy’s core software business generates revenue, but its main purpose is to fund further Bitcoin purchases through cash flow, debt issuance, and stock dilution.
Meanwhile, MARA evolved from a patent holding company into a Bitcoin mining powerhouse by acquiring hundreds of thousands of miners.
As of January 2025, MARA had a 53.2 EH/s mining capacity and was producing 24.2 BTC per day.
It held 44,893 BTC by December 2024, worth $4.3 billion—72% of its $6 billion enterprise value.
MARA funds its operations by periodically selling Bitcoin and issuing more shares.
Why Strategy (MSTR) Has the Edge Over MARA
While MARA might appear cheaper relative to its Bitcoin holdings, Strategy holds a key advantage—it doesn’t rely on mining.
✅ No Mining Costs: Unlike MARA, which consumes vast amounts of energy, Strategy simply buys and holds Bitcoin, avoiding rising operating expenses.
✅ No Halving Impact: Bitcoin’s halving events (which cut mining rewards in half) hurt miners like MARA but have no effect on Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings.
✅ Lower Share Dilution: Over the past three years, MARA’s share count increased by 229%, while Strategy’s rose only 129%—a much slower dilution rate.
✅ More Efficient Bitcoin Exposure: Strategy profits directly from Bitcoin’s price movement, while MARA must contend with rising energy costs and mining challenges.
The Better Bitcoin Play: Strategy (MSTR)
If you’re not bullish on Bitcoin, neither stock is a good investment. But if you believe in Bitcoin’s long-term growth, Strategy (MSTR) is the smarter choice.
🚀 MSTR benefits as long as Bitcoin rises, without the operational risks that miners like MARA face.
⚡ MARA needs energy costs to drop and scale its operations efficiently to remain competitive.
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