Situational Awareness, a hedge fund with $1.1 billion in Bitcoin miner stocks, sought capital after leverage amplified losses during July's AI sell-off, the Financial Times reported.
"The fund's use of borrowing magnified losses as AI-related equities tumbled, triggering margin pressures that forced the capital call," a person familiar with the matter told the FT.
The fund's portfolio is concentrated in Bitcoin mining companies, which have been caught in a dual squeeze — falling Bitcoin prices and the broader tech sell-off that punished AI-exposed stocks. July's AI rout was fueled by investor backlash against surging capital expenditure at hyperscalers, with secondary equity offerings hitting a five-year high in the second quarter as companies raced to raise cash for AI infrastructure, according to Seeking Alpha.
If Situational Awareness is forced to liquidate positions, it could trigger significant sell pressure on Bitcoin miner stocks, which have already declined sharply this year. The episode highlights how contagion from the AI sector is spreading into crypto-related equities, potentially depressing sentiment across both sectors.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.