Key Takeaways

• Bitcoin steadies near peaks: The world’s largest crypto rose 0.5% to $81,368.8 after touching a three-month high of $81,718.9 earlier in the session.
• Strategy’s stunning U-turn: Michael Saylor said the firm — holder of 818,334 Bitcoin — may begin selling some holdings to fund dividend and debt payments.
• “Inoculate the market”: Saylor said selling some Bitcoin would help “inoculate the market,” noting strong demand for the firm’s STRETCH preferred stock offering.
• Major strategic shift: The move marks a dramatic departure from Saylor’s previous “never sell” stance.
• $14.47B Q1 loss: Strategy reported a massive operating loss in the first quarter, primarily from unrealized Bitcoin losses.
• Buyback plan: Saylor noted Strategy intends to buy back more Bitcoin than it sells, limiting the market impact.
• Iran de-escalation hopes: Trump’s pause of “Project Freedom” and progress in Pakistan-brokered talks have lifted risk assets.
• Altcoins mixed: Ether dipped 0.4% to $2,369.43, while XRP rose 1.3%, Solana jumped 2.9%, Cardano gained 3.5%, and BNB added 1.3%.
• Memecoins surge: Dogecoin climbed 3.4% and $TRUMP rose 2.8%.

Bitcoin steadied on Wednesday, paring some of its intraday gains after top corporate holder Strategy said it could begin selling some of its cryptocurrency holdings.

However, Bitcoin remained close to a three-month high, while broader cryptocurrencies were also mostly upbeat amid mounting hopes for a de-escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict.

Bitcoin rose 0.5% to $81,368.8 by 02:32 ET (06:32 GMT). The world’s largest crypto hit an over three-month high of $81,718.9 earlier in the session.

Iran De-escalation Fuels Risk Appetite

Sentiment was buoyed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that the military will pause an operation aimed at escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran retaliated with military action against the campaign.

Trump also said talks with Iran were making progress, and that the paused operation was intended to potentially facilitate a full deal with Tehran.

Trump’s comments came after Iranian officials also flagged progress in Pakistan-brokered talks earlier this week. Their statements amplified hopes for a broader de-escalation in the Middle East conflict, driving gains across risk-driven assets.

Strategy’s Bombshell: Bitcoin Sales on the Table

Strategy said it was considering selling part of its 818,334 Bitcoin hoard to help fund dividend and debt obligation payments.

Michael Saylor said “we’ll probably sell some Bitcoin to fund a dividend just to inoculate the market,” noting that the company’s latest STRETCH preferred stock offering had seen strong demand.

Strategy funded its Bitcoin purchases chiefly through debt and preferred share issuances, leaving the company exposed to potential payments on its obligations.

But Saylor noted that the impact of the sales would be limited, and that the company planned to buy back a greater amount of Bitcoin than it sells.

Still, the strategy marks a major shift from Saylor’s earlier stance of never selling Bitcoin. The pivot also comes after Strategy logged an outsized $14.47 billion operating loss in the first quarter, primarily due to unrealized losses on its Bitcoin holdings.

Crypto Price Today: Altcoins Steady with Iran Tensions in Focus

Broader crypto prices moved in a flat-to-higher range, with focus squarely on the potential de-escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions. This dynamic has driven a strong recovery in crypto over the past week.

Ether, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, fell 0.4% to $2,369.43, while XRP rose 1.3% to $1.4254.

Solana and Cardano added 2.9% and 3.5%, respectively, while BNB rose 1.3%.

Among memecoins, Dogecoin jumped 3.4%, while $TRUMP added 2.8%.