Key Highlights
- Bitcoin surged past $81,000 on Tuesday, posting a 6.7% weekly gain amid reduced Iran tensions and growing AI enthusiasm
- Michael Saylor of Strategy announced the company might sell part of its 818,334 BTC holdings for the first time to meet $1.5 billion dividend requirements
- Strategy shares fell over 4% in after-hours trading after Saylor’s announcement; BTC momentarily dropped under $81,000 before rebounding
- Major US indices reached all-time highs with the S&P 500 gaining 0.8% and Nasdaq advancing 1%, powered by impressive earnings from AMD and Super Micro Computer
- Ether underperformed in the crypto rally, declining 0.3% over 24 hours as spot ETH ETF flows reversed to negative territory
During Tuesday’s Asian trading session, Bitcoin breached the $81,000 threshold, data from CoinDesk shows. This milestone represents a weekly increase of 6.7%.
The cryptocurrency’s advance occurred alongside a widespread shift toward risk assets globally. Declining US-Iran geopolitical tensions combined with fresh artificial intelligence sector enthusiasm encouraged investors to embrace higher-risk positions.
US equity markets concluded Tuesday’s session at unprecedented levels. The S&P 500 advanced 0.8%, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.7%. Wednesday morning futures indicated additional upward momentum.
Impressive technology sector earnings reports fueled market gains. Advanced Micro Devices skyrocketed nearly 15% in after-hours trading following an earnings beat and robust second-quarter outlook. Super Micro Computer soared 18% after announcing stronger-than-anticipated fiscal fourth-quarter projections.
Approximately 85% of S&P 500 firms reporting earnings thus far have exceeded profit forecasts. Meanwhile, roughly 77% have also surpassed revenue expectations.
Asian stock markets similarly reached record heights Wednesday morning. The MSCI Asia Pacific index climbed 1.8%, while South Korea’s Kospi surged over 6%. Samsung Electronics rallied 15%, elevating its market capitalization to $1 trillion.
Alternative cryptocurrencies participated in Bitcoin’s upward movement. Solana increased 3% to $87.35, and Dogecoin added 4% to reach $0.1158. XRP, BNB, and TRX similarly recorded daily gains.
Strategy Considers First-Ever Bitcoin Sale
The day’s most significant cryptocurrency development emerged from Strategy’s Q1 2026 earnings discussion. Executive chairman Michael Saylor revealed the company is contemplating selling a portion of its Bitcoin reserves to support dividend distributions.
“We will probably sell some bitcoin to pay a dividend just to inoculate the market and send the message that we did it,” Saylor said.
This action would represent Strategy’s inaugural Bitcoin sale since beginning its accumulation strategy. The company currently possesses 818,334 BTC, purchased at an average price of $75,537 per coin. Its approach has consistently been to acquire and retain.
Strategy disclosed a $12.54 billion net loss for Q1 2026. The deficit resulted from Bitcoin’s decline from its October 2026 high of $126,000 combined with mark-to-market accounting requirements.
The company maintains approximately $1.5 billion in yearly dividend commitments. Current US dollar reserves can sustain these payments for roughly 18 months.
Ether Underperforms Broader Crypto Market
Ether stood out as the notable underperformer among leading cryptocurrencies. It declined 0.3% across 24 hours, maintaining a 3.9% weekly increase at $2,376. Spot ETH ETF flows shifted negative during the previous week, breaking a three-week positive inflow pattern.
Strategy stock declined more than 4% during after-hours trading after Saylor’s disclosure. Bitcoin temporarily slipped beneath $81,000 before regaining strength above that threshold.
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