Michael Saylor’s Strategy, one of the world’s largest publicly listed corporate Bitcoin holders, added another major purchase to its growing portfolio as the cryptocurrency trades near $85,000.

Strategy acquired 6,556 Bitcoin for $555.8 million from April 14–20, at an average price of $84,785 per coin, the firm announced in its latest Form 8-K filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

The latest purchase accounts for 1.2% of Strategy’s total Bitcoin holdings of 538,200 BTC as of April 20, acquired for the aggregate amount of $36.5 billion at an average price of $67,766 per BTC.

An excerpt from Strategy’s Form 8-K filing. Source: Strategy

The latest Bitcoin purchase was funded using proceeds from the Common ATM and STRK ATM stock offerings, including the sale of 1,755,000 Strategy shares for $547.7 million and 91,213 shares of Series A preferred stock sold for $7.8 million.

Strategy expands buying after a pause

The latest purchase follows Strategy’s 3,459 BTC acquisition reported on April 14, which was the first announced purchase by the firm after March 31.

Prior to that, Strategy did not report a Bitcoin buy between March 31 and April 6, breaking its usual cadence as Bitcoin fell below $87,000.

Strategy’s Bitcoin acquisitions in 2025 so far. Source: Strategy

Strategy has acquired 91,800 Bitcoin so far in 2025, accounting for 17% of its total BTC holdings.

Growing institutional exposure

The new announcement came shortly after Saylor highlighted growing institutional exposure to Strategy, with at least 13 institutional investors holding MSTR shares directly.

Citing public data as of the first quarter of 2025, Saylor also mentioned that 814,000 retail accounts have direct exposure to MSTR, with another 55 million beneficiaries having indirect exposure through mutual funds, pensions, insurance portfolios and exchange-traded funds.

Source: Michael Saylor

Related: Metaplanet tops $400M Bitcoin holdings with new $28M purchase

MSTR shares have seen a massive rise since 2024, peaking above $420 amid optimism over Donald Trump’s presidential win in November 2025. At the time of writing, MSTR is trading at $314, up around 4% year-to-date, according to TradingView.

On the other hand, the Bitcoin price is seeing a significant drop YTD, down more than 6% and trading at $86,936 at the time of writing, according to data from CoinGecko.

Magazine: Your AI ‘digital twin’ can take meetings and comfort your loved ones

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov expressed concerns over a growing threat to private messaging in France and other European Union countries, warning that Telegram would rather exit certain markets than implement encryption backdoors that undermine user privacy.

In an April 21 post to his “Du Rove’s channel” on Telegram, he posted a message about the EU’s increasing efforts to weaken messaging encryption by adding backdoors, a method that would allow authorities to bypass encryption and access private user data.

Durov cited initiatives from French and EU lawmakers to require messaging apps like Telegram to implement backdoors for police access and stressed Telegram’s commitment to digital privacy.

“Telegram would rather exit a market than undermine encryption with backdoors and violate basic human rights,” Durov stated, adding: “Unlike some of our competitors, we don’t trade privacy for market share.”

Backdoors can be exploited by criminals

In his message, Durov highlighted that the biggest problem behind encryption backdoors lies in their accessibility not only by authorities but also by hackers and foreign agents.

“It’s technically impossible to guarantee that only the police can access a backdoor,” Durov said, adding that backdoors would put users’ private messages at risk of being compromised.

He added that criminals would likely turn to lesser-known apps and use virtual private networks (VPNs) to avoid detection, rendering such regulations ineffective.

Telegram “never disclosed a single byte” of private messages

Durov said that while Telegram complies with valid court orders in some jurisdictions, such as disclosing IP addresses and phone numbers found to be involved in criminal activity, it has never exposed any private messages:

“In its 12-year history, Telegram has never disclosed a single byte of private messages. In accordance with the EU Digital Services Act, if provided with a valid court order, Telegram would only disclose the IP addresses and phone numbers of criminal suspects — not messages.”

He urged privacy advocates to keep communicating with lawmakers and promote encryption as a protection tool of privacy and safety for ordinary people, rather than see it as a criminal tool. “Losing that protection would be tragic,” Durov said.

“The battle is far from over”

Although the French National Assembly rejected a proposal to allow hidden access to private messages in March, Durov said the EU’s war on digital privacy is far from over.

Durov cited the European Commission’s “ProtectEU” proposal from early April. The proposal aims to find “technological solutions to enable lawful access to data by law enforcement authorities in 2026.”

An excerpt from the EC’s ProtectEU proposal. Source: EU

The proposal has been heavily criticized by digital privacy advocates and some European lawmakers, with Finnish MEP Aura Salla suggesting that introducing encryption backdoors “fundamentally undermines the very cybersecurity principles ProtectEU aims to uphold.”

Related: EU could fine Elon Musk’s X $1B over illicit content, disinformation

“No country is immune to the slow erosion of freedoms. Every day, those freedoms come under attack — and every day, we must defend them,” Durov concluded.

Durov’s warning about threats to privacy and freedom in the EU comes amid an ongoing legal case in France against the Telegram CEO involving allegations of facilitating a platform that enables illicit transactions.

According to French prosecutors, Durov faces up to 10 years of prison time in addition to a $550,000 fine if convicted.

Magazine: Altcoin season to hit in Q2? Mantra’s plan to win trust: Hodler’s Digest, April 13 – 19

Crypto casinos generated more than $81 billion in revenue from betting in 2024, even as regulators in key jurisdictions continue to block access to the platforms, according to a new report.

Citing data from the anti-online-crime platform Yield Sec, the Financial Times reported that wagers paid in crypto in 2024 generated $81.4 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR). This metric refers to the difference between bets taken and winnings paid out.  

Yield Sec data also showed that the annual revenue for crypto casinos increased five times since 2022 despite gambling sites being blocked in the United States, China, the United Kingdom and the European Union. 

Crypto casino Stake rivals traditional betting platforms

Betting platform Stake reported that its GGR in 2024 was around $4.7 billion, up 80% since 2022. This puts it on a par with some of the biggest gambling groups, such as Entain and Flutter. Entain reported $5 billion, while Flutter reported $14 billion in revenues in 2024. 

Stake offers traditional casino games, including blackjack, roulette and slots. The platform also allows users to bet on sports. Users on the betting platform generally transact in crypto, with account balances being deposited and withdrawn directly into crypto wallets. 

In 2023, the crypto betting platform was hacked, with $41 million withdrawn from its wallets. On Sept. 4, 2023, security firms flagged suspicious outflows from the platform. The company then confirmed the hack through social media, saying there were unauthorized transactions from its Ethereum and BNB Chain hot wallets. 

On Sept. 7, 2023, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation said the $41 million hack was executed by the notorious North Korean hacking group Lazarus. 

Related: XRP ETF ‘obvious’ as Polymarket bettors up approval odds to 85%

Gamblers access illegal sites through VPNs

Even though crypto gambling sites are officially blocked in many jurisdictions, users can still access them by bypassing geo-blocking restrictions with VPNs, which allows users to place bets using their crypto assets on sites blocked in their country. 

Former players and crypto users told the FT that many online guides teach people how to bypass geo-blocking restrictions to access a crypto gambling platform. Cointelegraph confirmed that some influencers offer online tutorials that teach people how to access blocked gambling sites. 

“Ready-to-gamble” crypto casino accounts are also reportedly being sold on social media platforms, according to Sanya Burgess, journalist at The i Paper.

Source: Sanya Burgess

Users sell accounts that have already passed through betting sites’ registration processes. On Jan. 31, Sky News reported that some users sell pre-verified crypto casino accounts for as low as $10. These ready-to-gamble accounts are reportedly being sold on social media sites like Facebook.

Magazine: Your AI ‘digital twin’ can take meetings and comfort your loved ones

Crypto casinos generated more than $81 billion in revenue from betting in 2024, even as regulators in key jurisdictions continue to block access to the platforms, according to a new report.

Citing data from the anti-online-crime platform Yield Sec, the Financial Times reported that wagers paid in crypto in 2024 generated $81.4 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR). This metric refers to the difference between bets taken and winnings paid out.  

Yield Sec data also showed that the annual revenue for crypto casinos increased five times since 2022 despite gambling sites being blocked in the United States, China, the United Kingdom and the European Union. 

Crypto casino Stake rivals traditional betting platforms

Betting platform Stake reported that its GGR in 2024 was around $4.7 billion, up 80% since 2022. This puts it on a par with some of the biggest gambling groups, such as Entain and Flutter. Entain reported $5 billion, while Flutter reported $14 billion in revenues in 2024. 

Stake offers traditional casino games, including blackjack, roulette and slots. The platform also allows users to bet on sports. Users on the betting platform generally transact in crypto, with account balances being deposited and withdrawn directly into crypto wallets. 

In 2023, the crypto betting platform was hacked, with $41 million withdrawn from its wallets. On Sept. 4, 2023, security firms flagged suspicious outflows from the platform. The company then confirmed the hack through social media, saying there were unauthorized transactions from its Ethereum and BNB Chain hot wallets. 

On Sept. 7, 2023, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation said the $41 million hack was executed by the notorious North Korean hacking group Lazarus. 

Related: XRP ETF ‘obvious’ as Polymarket bettors up approval odds to 85%

Gamblers access illegal sites through VPNs

Even though crypto gambling sites are officially blocked in many jurisdictions, users can still access them by bypassing geo-blocking restrictions with VPNs, which allows users to place bets using their crypto assets on sites blocked in their country. 

Former players and crypto users told the FT that many online guides teach people how to bypass geo-blocking restrictions to access a crypto gambling platform. Cointelegraph confirmed that some influencers offer online tutorials that teach people how to access blocked gambling sites. 

“Ready-to-gamble” crypto casino accounts are also reportedly being sold on social media platforms, according to Sanya Burgess, journalist at The i Paper.

Source: Sanya Burgess

Users sell accounts that have already passed through betting sites’ registration processes. On Jan. 31, Sky News reported that some users sell pre-verified crypto casino accounts for as low as $10. These ready-to-gamble accounts are reportedly being sold on social media sites like Facebook.

Magazine: Your AI ‘digital twin’ can take meetings and comfort your loved ones

Crypto casinos generated more than $81 billion in revenue in 2024, even as regulators in key jurisdictions continued to block access to the platforms, according to a new report.

Citing data from the anti-online-crime platform Yield Sec, the Financial Times reported that wagers paid in crypto in 2024 generated $81.4 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR). This metric refers to the difference between bets taken and winnings paid out.  

Yield Sec data also showed that the annual revenue for crypto casinos has increased five times since 2022, despite gambling sites being blocked in the United States, China, the United Kingdom and the European Union. 

Crypto casino Stake rivals traditional betting platforms

Betting platform Stake reported that its GGR in 2024 was around $4.7 billion, up 80% since 2022. This puts it on a par with some of the biggest gambling groups, such as Entain and Flutter. Entain reported $5 billion, while Flutter reported $14 billion in revenue in 2024. 

Stake offers traditional casino games, including blackjack, roulette and slots. The platform also allows users to bet on sports. Users on the betting platform generally transact in crypto, with account balances being deposited and withdrawn directly into crypto wallets. 

In 2023, the crypto betting platform was hacked, with $41 million withdrawn from its wallets. On Sept. 4, 2023, security firms flagged suspicious outflows from the platform. The company then confirmed the hack through social media, saying there were unauthorized transactions from its Ethereum and BNB Chain hot wallets. 

On Sept. 7, 2023, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation said the $41 million hack was executed by the notorious North Korean hacking group Lazarus. 

Related: XRP ETF ‘obvious’ as Polymarket bettors up approval odds to 85%

Gamblers access illegal sites through VPNs

Even though crypto gambling sites are officially blocked in many jurisdictions, users can access them by bypassing geo-blocking restrictions with VPNs, which allows users to place bets on sites blocked in their country. 

Former players and crypto users told the FT that many online guides show people how to bypass geo-blocking restrictions to access a crypto gambling platform. Cointelegraph confirmed that some influencers offer online tutorials that teach people how to access blocked gambling sites. 

“Ready-to-gamble” crypto casino accounts are also reportedly being sold on social media platforms, according to Sanya Burgess, journalist at The i Paper.

Source: Sanya Burgess

Users sell accounts that have already passed through betting sites’ registration processes. On Jan. 31, Sky News reported that some users sell pre-verified crypto casino accounts for as little as $10. These ready-to-gamble accounts are reportedly sold on social media sites like Facebook.

Magazine: Your AI ‘digital twin’ can take meetings and comfort your loved ones

Investors seeking Bitcoin exposure may be running out of time to purchase below a six-figure price, as US Treasury buybacks may signal the next leg up for the world’s first cryptocurrency.

This might be the “last chance” to buy Bitcoin (BTC) below the $100,000 mark, according to Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX and chief investment officer of Maelstrom.

“Seriously fam, this might be the last chance you have to buy $BTC post, hinting at incoming “treasury buy backs” as the “Bazooka” for Bitcoin’s price trajectory.

Source: Arthur Hayes

Treasury buybacks refer to the US Treasury Department repurchasing its outstanding bonds from the open market to increase liquidity, manage federal debt or stabilize interest rates.

These operations can inject liquidity into the financial system, often benefiting risk assets like Bitcoin.

Related: Bitcoin up 33% since 2024 halving as institutions disrupt cycle

Other analysts predicted that the growth of the fiat money supply will be Bitcoin’s main catalyst in 2025.

BTC projection to $132,000 on M2 money supply growth. Source: Jamie Coutts

The growing money supply may push Bitcoin’s price above $132,000 before the end of the year, according to Jamie Coutts, chief crypto analyst at Real Vision.

However, global trade war concerns may limit investor appetite until the US and China reach a trade agreement.

Related: Metaplanet tops $400M Bitcoin holdings with new $28M purchase

US dollar sinks to 2022 low, Bitcoin gains momentum

Bitcoin briefly rose above $87,700 for the first time in nearly three weeks, since US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal import tariffs on April 2.

“Looks like Bitcoin is pumping on continued Dollar weakness,” wrote André Dragosch, the European head of research at Bitwise, adding that the US Dollar Index “just touched the lowest level since March 2022.”

BTC, DXY, 1-year chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The weakening US dollar may reinforce Bitcoin’s appeal as a safe-haven asset, Ryan Lee, chief analyst at Bitget Research, told Cointelegraph, adding:

“Strong volume and technical confirmation from a descending wedge breakout suggest a potential test of the $90,000 resistance, with macro factors like a weakening dollar and rising gold correlation reinforcing BTC’s appeal as a hedge.”

Despite the recent correction, Japanese and UK-based investment firms are investing hundreds of millions into Bitcoin, signaling continued institutional adoption that may accelerate Bitcoin’s four-year cycle.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

Magazine: SCB tips $500K BTC, SEC delays Ether ETF options, and more: Hodler’s Digest, Feb. 23 – March 1

XRP (XRP) has dropped nearly 40% since hitting its multi-year high of $3.40 three months ago.

Still, its ability to hold above key technical support levels, combined with a potentially market-shifting derivatives listing, has prompted some analysts to maintain a bullish outlook for the months ahead.

XRP/USD daily price chart. Source: TradingViewCoinbase XRP futures may launch on April 21

From a fundamental perspective, XRP may receive a boost from the anticipated launch of XRP futures contracts on the Coinbase Derivatives platform, scheduled for April 21 under the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) oversight.

Source: X

This development may inject fresh liquidity and institutional interest into the market, helping catalyze the technical breakouts projected above.

XRP price chart painting Wyckoff reaccumulation

XRP’s ongoing consolidation phase resembles a classic Wyckoff reaccumulation pattern, according to technical analyst Charting Guy.

The Wyckoff reaccumulation pattern is a mid-cycle structure that often precedes the next leg of a broader uptrend. It suggests that smart money is absorbing supply during the cooldown, setting the stage for a potential breakout.

XRP established support and began consolidating in late 2024, marking Phases A and B of the Wyckoff reaccumulation pattern. In early April 2025, the price formed a “Spring” followed by a successful “Test,” signaling seller exhaustion.

XRP/USD daily price chart. Source: TradingView/Charting Guy

As of April 21, XRP is attempting to break above the descending “Creek” trendline.

A breakout would confirm a “Jump Across The Creek” (JATC) and entry into Phase D. If confirmed, XRP could enter Phase E and rally 70% toward $3.55 in the coming weeks, a level aligning with the pattern’s Last Point of Support (LPS).

XRP/USD weekly price chart. Source: TradingView

A Fibonacci retracement graph drawn from $3.55-swing-high to $0.14-swing-low presents $5.65 as the upside target for June if XRP price breaks above $3.55.

Falling wedge aligns with XRP’s bullish outlook

The upside outlook aligns with XRP’s prevailing falling wedge pattern, as spotted by chartist “Jobcfx” on X.

Notably, the bullish reversal structure has been narrowing since February 2025. A breakout above the wedge’s upper trendline, currently around the $2.20-2.40 area, would signal the start of a new rally.

XRP/USD daily price chart. Source: TradingView

Falling wedge breakouts typically target a move equal to the pattern’s maximum height.

In XRP’s case, if it breaks above $2.20, the projected upside target for May lands near $4.00, aligning with the Wyckoff reaccumulation’s Phase E breakout zone.

Related: XRP price analysts project $10 next, ‘optimistic’ target of $20

Interestingly, Bitcoin (BTC) is also forming a falling wedge pattern on its chart. If confirmed, a bullish breakout in Bitcoin could act as a catalyst for the altcoin market, potentially accelerating XRP’s upward momentum as well.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

The Ethereum Foundation, the nonprofit organization developing the Ethereum ecosystem, is shifting its focus to user experience and layer-1 scaling challenges following its March leadership reshuffle. 

On April 21, the Ethereum Foundation co-executive director Tomasz Stańczak shared an X post detailing how the organization has changed since its change in leadership structure.

Stańczak said the change aims to give Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin more time for research and exploration rather than dealing with day-to-day tasks and crisis management.

“Each time Vitalik shares insights or communicates a direction, he accelerates major long‑term breakthroughs,” he wrote.

Stańczak added that Buterin’s recent posts had advanced promising avenues and helped realign the community around the organization’s core values. 

Vitalik Buterin tackles Ethereum privacy and speed

On March 1, the Ethereum Foundation announced that its core researcher Hsiao-Wei Wang and Stańczak, the CEO of Nethermind, would become the co-directors of the organization from March 17. 

Since the changes in the organization’s leadership structure, Buterin has stepped back from daily operations. He has since published proposals addressing the Ethereum network’s privacy and performance limitations.

On April 11, the Ethereum co-founder unveiled a privacy roadmap for the network. In the post, Buterin proposed having features that anonymize user transactions. Buterin said the features should be “ideally turned on by default.” 

Besides the privacy of transactions, Buterin also shared a post addressing Ethereum’s speed and efficiency. On April 20, Buterin proposed a change in the Ethereum Virtual Machine’s (EVM) contract language to improve the efficiency and speed of the blockchain’s execution layer. 

Stańczak said that while Buterin’s proposals will “always carry weight,” they are supposed to start conversations and encourage progress in different research areas. The executive said the community can either refine or reject the ideas. 

Related: Debate as Solana briefly flips Ethereum in staking market cap

Foundation targets near-term protocol upgrades

The Ethereum Foundation will shift much of its research to “near-term” goals, including addressing user experience and scaling challenges in upcoming protocol upgrades, Stańczak said.

Stańczak added that the foundation will concentrate on layer-1 scaling, support for layer-2 scaling, and user experience improvements such as interoperability in the Pectra, Fusaka and Glamsterdam upgrades. 

While the focus shifted to near-term results, the executive said the team is also looking into ways to bring in more long-term projects.

“Posts from our top researchers help some of them to ship within one or two years through initiatives such as next‑generation execution and consensus layers,” Stańczak said. Cointelegraph contacted the Ethereum Foundation for comment but did not receive a response by publication.

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Bitcoin (BTC) is eyeing new April highs as macro instability suddenly delivers a tailwind for BTC price performance.

Bitcoin is on the way up, nearing $88,000, but few market participants are willing to trust the strength of snap price moves.

A new macro week dawns in the shadow of the US trade war, with Federal Reserve speakers lining up to take to the stage.

Gold is shattering all-time highs again, but this time Bitcoin is starting to react.

US dollar weakness exhibits historic traits as three-year lows spark bullish predictions for Bitcoin and commodities.

The newest BTC hodlers are already profiting from the latest move, but speculators are waiting for a reclaimation of $91,000.

BTC price spike met with skepticism

Bitcoin is starting the week off right with a 3% rise on the back of fresh macroeconomic turmoil amid the US-China trade war.

BTC/USD reached $87,705 after the April 20 weekly close, data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView shows, its highest in nearly three weeks.

BTC/USD 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Reacting, however, traders have been cautious, highlighting the unreliable nature of volatile moves that begin during non-TradFi trading hours on weekends.

“Nice breakout, but it’s on low volume,” trading resource Stockmoney Lizards wrote in part of a response on X. 

“WIll definitely need confirmation. In any case, you shouldn’t be too euphoric yet.”

Never like to trust a Sunday pump – lots of false breakouts here by the looks of it. Lets see what next week brings pic.twitter.com/cVE1j1Gh63

— Honeybadger (@HoneybadgerC) April 21, 2025

Fellow trading account IncomeSharks shared similar views, saying that BTC price strength must continue in the face of weak equities.

“Nice to see the downtrend breakout but the timing is important,” it said.

“Sunday is not a day to celebrate a low volume pump while stock markets are closed. If you want to see a bullish moves lets see stocks open red tomorrow and keep this candle green. Then we can have fun.”BTC/USD 1-day chart. Source: IncomeSharks/X

Crypto trader, analyst and entrepreneur Michaël van de Poppe continued the lukewarm reaction to the upside on both Bitcoin and gold, predicting that they “probably will give it back.”

“Needs to get above $88,804 to break the series of lower highs and lower lows,” trader, analyst and podcast host Scott Melker, known as the “Wolf of All Streets,” added. 

“Is it time?”Fed policy in spotlight as officials speak

The coming days will see the Federal Reserve take the spotlight as senior officials comment on the current macroeconomic landscape.

A total of eight Federal Reserve presidents will shed fresh light on what is an increasingly contentious status quo for the US, with the Fed at odds with demands from President Donald Trump.

Last week, Trump even called for Fed Chair Jerome Powell to be fired, a move that sparked concerns over US economic stability.

Powell has repeatedly come out hawkish on financial policy, hinting at being in no rush to lower interest rates as Trump’s trade war fuels inflation concerns.

The latest data from CME Group’s FedWatch Tool reflects this, with traders seeing a rate cut likely only at the Fed’s June meeting.

Fed target rate probabilities for June FOMC meeting. Source: CME Group

With little by way of new macro data due for release, however, markets will continue to focus on the trade war itself, along with the volatility it often creates.

The start of the week has been no exception so far; China issuing warnings over collaboration with the US to isolate it immediately sent stock futures tumbling while gold soared to new all-time highs.

Bitcoin, in a break with recent tradition, managed to copy gold’s optimism instead of following equities lower.

“Gold has hit its 55th all-time high in 12 months and Bitcoin is officially joining the run, now above $87,000,” trading resource The Kobeissi Letter responded in part of an X post on the topic. 

“The narrative in both Gold and Bitcoin is aligning for the first time in years: Gold and Bitcoin are telling us that a weaker US Dollar and more uncertainty are on the way.”

Gold nears record $3,400 on trade war fears

Gold remains the standout bullish story for 2025.

Amid the uncertainty wrought by the trade war and its potential long-term impact on inflation and global assets, XAU/USD has exploded nearly 30% year-to-date.

The pair is currently circling a record $3,400 per ounce, and while some have warned that a “blow-off top” is due, momentum refuses to slow down.

XAU/USD 1-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Kobeissi suggested that Trump’s latest trade-war post on social media, in the form of a “non-tariff cheating” sheet, helped reignite gold’s relentless march higher.

“President Trump’s ‘non-tariff cheating’ list is arguably one of the best things to happen to gold all year,” it argued.

“Gold knows what’s coming next.”

Kobeissi revealed that gold had, in fact, outperformed the S&P 500 since the COVID-19 cross-market crash in March 2020.

For Bitcoin, however, change appears to be afoot. As Cointelegraph reported, BTC/USD has finally begun to mimic gold’s reaction to macro uncertainty after spending months in a downtrend.

As that downtrend is slowly left behind, talk is turning to historical precedent. In the past, Bitcoin breakouts have lagged gold by around three months.

“After futures opened it didn’t take long for $BTC and $GOLD to move up quickly as equities moved down,” trader Daan Crypto Trades told X followers. 

“Pretty interesting move which is now compounding on the relative strength BTC has already been showing for weeks.”BTC/USD vs. XAU/USD 1-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewDollar strength plumbs new 3-year lows

Adding to the mix is fresh US dollar weakness, something that hedge fund creator Andreas Steno Larsen described as a “good early sign for Bitcoin.”

“We ain’t seen nothing yet, if this continues (and if Powell is laid off),” he argued on X alongside a chart of BTC versus USD returns. 

Bitcoin vs. USD returns. Source: Andreas Steno/X

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks greenback strength against a basket of major US trading partner currencies, was down another 1.3% on April 21 at the time of writing. This, in turn, brought the year-to-date downside to nearly 10%.

Now at its lowest levels since March 2022, DXY is being heralded as the powder keg to spark a giant bull run in both Bitcoin and commodities.

“The US Dollar has gone ‘no bid,’ teetering on a historic 14-yr uptrend breakdown from 2011,” trading resource Rock Bottom Entries told X followers. 

“Forget 2016 & 2020—this will ignite a 2000s-style commodity supercycle.”US Dollar Index (DXY) 1-month chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Bitcoin traditionally outperforms to the upside during periods of rapid DXY suppression, an inverse correlation that has been lacking in recent times.

“Contrary to what you hear on social media, Bitcoin has been in lockstep with DXY for a couple of years,” analyst Joe Dean thus commented on the phenomenon. 

“DXY overshot to the upside, then the downside, and will likely find its way back to the mean. $BTC will likely follow.”US dollar index (DXY) vs. BTC/USD chart. Source: Joe Dean/XBitcoin newbies back in the black

Short-term BTC price moves are already making a tangible difference to certain Bitcoin investor cohorts.

Related: Bitcoin prepares for launch from $85K, BNB, HYPE, TAO and RNDR could follow

New research from onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant reveals that even a tap of $87,000 has placed the most recent set of buyers in the black, with an average 3.7% profit.

“This is a short-term bullish signal, showing renewed confidence and reduced panic risk among the newest market entrants,” CryptoQuant contributor Crazzyblockk wrote in one of its “Quicktake” blog posts.

The move comes in contrast to the large short-term holder (STH) cohort, comprised of buyers up to six months old, which has an aggregate cost basis of $91,000.

As Cointelegraph reported, STH cost bases can act as both support and resistance for extended periods as speculative hodlers react to sudden price swings.

“Until BTC closes above the $91K threshold, Short-Term Holders remain in loss. This may sustain latent sell pressure, especially if price momentum weakens — reinforcing the importance of a decisive breakout above STH realized price to neutralize this overhang,” CryptoQuant added.

Bitcoin STH profitability (screenshot). Source: CryptoQuant

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

Japanese investment firm Metaplanet increased its Bitcoin holdings to more than $400 million after its latest purchase.

Metaplanet acquired 330 Bitcoin (BTC) for $28.2 million at an average price of $85,605 per BTC, bringing its total holdings to 4,855 Bitcoin worth $414 million, according to an April 21 post from Simon Gerovich, the CEO of Metaplanet.

The firm’s Bitcoin yield surpassed 119% year-to-date after its latest investment.

Source: Simon Gerovich

Metaplanet issued 2 billion Japanese yen ($13.3 million) of bonds to buy more Bitcoin on March 31, Cointelegraph reported.

Related: UK firm buys $250M Bitcoin as analysts eye quiet Easter weekend

The $414 million in Bitcoin holdings make Metaplanet Asia’s largest and the world’s 10th-largest corporate Bitcoin holder, Bitbo data shows.

Source: Bitbo 

According to Enmanuel Cardozo, a market analyst at the asset tokenization platform Brickken, the growing institutional presence of firms, such as Strategy and Tether, is accelerating the four-year Bitcoin cycle.

“That puts the bottom around Q3 this year and a peak mid-2026, but I think we might see things move it a bit sooner because the market’s more mature now with more liquidity,” the analyst told Cointelegraph.

Related: $1T stablecoin supply could drive next crypto rally — CoinFund’s Pakman

Metaplanet plans to reach 21,000 BTC

The latest acquisitions are part of Metaplanet’s plans to accumulate 21,000 BTC by 2026, aligning with its mission to drive Bitcoin adoption across Japan.

Often dubbed “Asia’s MicroStrategy,” Metaplanet has drawn comparisons to Michael Saylor’s company Strategy, which continues to top the list of public Bitcoin holders.

Metaplanet’s investment was announced a week after the latest purchase by Strategy, the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder.

Source: Michael Saylor

Strategy bought 3,459 BTC for $285.5 million at an average price of $82,618 per BTC, bringing its total holding to 531,644 BTC acquired for a cumulative $35.92 billion, Cointelegraph reported on April 14.

Despite tariff uncertainty limiting risk appetite among traditional and crypto investors in the short term, analysts are optimistic about Bitcoin’s price trajectory for the next decade.

Bitcoin may surpass $1.8 million by 2035, driven by its growing recognition as a superior savings technology, set to rival or surpass gold’s $21 trillion market capitalization, Joe Burnett, director of market research at Unchained, told Cointelegraph during the  Chainreaction live show on X.

Magazine: SCB tips $500K BTC, SEC delays Ether ETF options, and more: Hodler’s Digest, Feb. 23 – March 1