Key Takeaways

• Bitcoin retreats: The world’s largest crypto fell 0.7% to $80,951.3, dipping from three-month highs.
• April winning streak: Bitcoin surged nearly 12% in April on bargain buying and Iran de-escalation hopes.
• Strategy’s sale threat: Top corporate holder Strategy Inc said it may sell some Bitcoin to fund dividend payments.
• Mixed strategy: Chairman Michael Saylor did not specify the size of potential sales but vowed Strategy will buy back more Bitcoin than it sells.
• STRETCH offering pressure: Strategy’s recent preferred share offering attracted strong demand but added to dividend obligations.
• U.S. Bitcoin reserve update coming: The White House will announce details on a national Bitcoin reserve “in the next few weeks,” per Coindesk.
• Months of preparation: Patrick Witt, executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, said a federal effort to inventory U.S.-held Bitcoin has been ongoing.
• Trump’s 2025 order: The president previously created a national Bitcoin reserve using government-seized crypto.
• Altcoins mixed: Ether fell 1.6% to $2,333.41, XRP slipped 0.8%, while BNB, Solana, and Cardano rose 1-2%.
• Memecoins drop: Dogecoin fell 3.7% and $TRUMP slid 1.6%.

Bitcoin slipped slightly from three-month highs on Thursday, with its recent rally losing momentum after top corporate holder Strategy flagged plans to potentially trim its holdings.

However, the cryptocurrency and broader markets still remained upbeat, as growing hopes for a U.S.-Iran de-escalation drove strong gains across risk-driven assets.

Bitcoin fell 0.7% to $80,951.3 by 02:16 ET (06:16 GMT). The world’s largest crypto surged nearly 12% in April, benefiting from a combination of bargain buying and market expectations of further de-escalation in the Iran war.

Recent headlines further fueled Bitcoin’s rally in early May, particularly as both the United States and Iran indicated that negotiations were progressing well. A wave of reports suggesting the two sides were nearing a deal sparked strong gains in risk-driven markets this week.

Bitcoin Rally Stalls as Strategy Signals Potential Sales

Bitcoin ran out of steam by Wednesday, stalling near three-month highs after top corporate holder Strategy Inc said it was considering selling some of its holdings.

Strategy said the sales would likely be aimed at paying dividends, particularly given that the company funded its massive Bitcoin purchases through a mix of equity offerings and debt.

Strategy’s recent STRETCH preferred share offering was also reported to have garnered strong demand. However, this leaves the company with even greater dividend payment obligations.

Chairman Michael Saylor did not specify the size of Strategy’s potential sales, but noted that the company still intended to buy back more Bitcoin overall.

U.S. Bitcoin Reserve Update Coming in Next Few Weeks — Coindesk

The White House will make an announcement on a national Bitcoin reserve “in the next few weeks,” Coindesk reported on Wednesday, citing Patrick Witt, executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets.

Witt told Coindesk that a federal effort to inventory, centralize, and secure U.S.-held Bitcoin has been ongoing in the background for months.

President Donald Trump had in 2025 issued an executive order to create a national Bitcoin reserve using all of the crypto seized by the government.

Crypto Price Today: Altcoins Stall with Bitcoin

Broader crypto prices also largely stalled alongside Bitcoin on Thursday. Ether, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, fell 1.6% to $2,333.41.

XRP slipped 0.8%, while BNB, Solana, and Cardano each rose between 1% and 2%.

Among memecoins, Dogecoin fell 3.7%, while $TRUMP slid 1.6%.