BTC

Bitcoin fell about 3% this week, a modest pullback for the largest cryptocurrency. Traders and investors are watching whether the dip is a routine correction within a broader range or the start of a larger decline, with sentiment across the crypto market remaining cautious as prices drift lower.

StarkWare researchers report that an optimization challenge cut the estimated computing cost of quantum-safe Bitcoin transactions by 82%, to about $59. The work is aimed at protecting roughly 6 million BTC held in addresses whose public keys are exposed and vulnerable to future quantum attacks. Researchers caution that significant technical hurdles remain before such protections can be applied at scale across the network.

Investment firm Strive announced its Bitcoin holdings have reached 32,773 BTC, a milestone in the company's corporate treasury strategy. The announcement adds to the ongoing race among publicly traded companies to accumulate Bitcoin as a balance-sheet asset, a trend driven by firms seeking exposure to the cryptocurrency's long-term value. Market watchers are tracking these corporate holdings closely as a signal of institutional adoption.

Strive has purchased $94.5 million worth of Bitcoin, lifting its total holdings above 27,000 BTC. The acquisition marks another sizeable addition to the company's crypto treasury, a strategy increasingly common among firms seeking exposure to the asset. Details on the average purchase price or funding source were not disclosed, but the move reinforces Strive's position among the larger corporate Bitcoin holders.

El Salvador has increased its national Bitcoin holdings to 7,787 BTC, continuing its policy of accumulating cryptocurrency as a state reserve. The country, which made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021 under President Nayib Bukele, has regularly added to its holdings despite criticism from international lenders. Observers are watching whether the strategy pays off as Bitcoin prices fluctuate.

Bitcoin ETFs pulled in $2.4 billion in inflows while exchange holdings dropped by 35,800 BTC in a single week, tightening available supply. Market watchers say the combination of strong institutional demand and shrinking exchange reserves could add upward pressure on the price, with traders watching whether the supply squeeze continues into next week.

Major cryptocurrencies fell as US Treasury yields pushed higher, weighing on risk assets. Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Dogecoin all declined, but at least one analyst framed the dip as a buying opportunity for Bitcoin, arguing the pullback reflects macro pressure rather than a breakdown in crypto fundamentals.

Bitcoin exchange-traded funds drew roughly $2.4 billion in inflows over the past week, one of the strongest stretches since the products launched. Market commentators say the steady institutional buying has tightened supply and is being cited as a potential catalyst for another major BTC price rally, though analysts remain divided on whether the momentum will hold.

Bitcoin has continued to climb even as long-term holders reduce their positions, with large wallets reportedly accumulating around 113,950 BTC, according to Hindustan Times. The report highlights a shift in ownership from established holders to big new buyers, a pattern analysts often read as a sign of confidence and a possible driver behind the coin's sustained price rise.

Michael Saylor's Strategy bought 1,665 Bitcoin for about $143 million at an average price of $85,681 per coin. The company's total holdings now stand at 847,666 Bitcoin, worth roughly $71.2 billion. The firm also repurchased $152 million of its own stock, continuing its aggressive accumulation strategy despite recent market volatility.

Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, has purchased another 1,665 bitcoin for roughly $143 million, lifting its total holdings to 847,666 BTC. The company remains the largest corporate holder of bitcoin, continuing an aggressive accumulation strategy under executive chairman Michael Saylor that has made its stock a proxy for crypto exposure. Traders and analysts track each weekly disclosure closely, as the purchases signal ongoing institutional demand and often move market sentiment around bitcoin's price.

Market analysts are assessing how U.S. inflation data is influencing the price of bitcoin, with commentary suggesting inflation trends remain a key driver of the cryptocurrency's short-term moves. Traders continue to watch inflation figures for clues on Federal Reserve policy, which shapes risk appetite for assets like bitcoin.

Strive has purchased roughly $94.5 million worth of bitcoin, lifting its total holdings above 27,400 BTC. The move continues the company's bitcoin treasury strategy, placing it among the growing list of corporate entities accumulating large bitcoin positions. The purchase drew attention from crypto market watchers tracking corporate bitcoin balances.

Coinbase is bringing USDC lending to the United Kingdom, allowing customers to borrow against their Bitcoin and Ether holdings. The move expands the exchange's lending services into the UK market and gives British users a way to access liquidity in the dollar-backed stablecoin without selling their crypto. It follows Coinbase's broader push to grow its international presence amid a more favourable UK regulatory environment for digital assets.

Large Bitcoin holders, known as whales, have accumulated roughly 113,950 BTC over the past ten weeks, according to market commentary making the rounds among crypto analysts. The renewed buying is being read as a sign of confidence from big investors, with observers debating whether the accumulation points to a coming price rally or simply routine repositioning by major holders.

Strive, the asset management firm led by executive chairman Vivek Ramaswamy, has bought $94.5 million worth of Bitcoin, pushing its total holdings above 27,000 BTC. The purchase cements its position among the largest corporate Bitcoin treasuries, and observers are tracking whether the firm will continue accumulating.

Bitcoin slipped as strong inflows into spot exchange-traded funds collided with pressure from the Federal Reserve's policy outlook. FXStreet's forecast notes that continued ETF buying is being offset by macro headwinds, with traders weighing rate expectations against institutional demand for BTC.

Bitcoin rose to $84,508.13 after briefly dropping below the $84,000 level, recovering roughly in step with a 1% gain in the total cryptocurrency market capitalisation. Traders attribute the rebound to continued institutional buying of spot Bitcoin ETFs, which has remained a key source of demand even as prices fluctuate around the $84,000 mark.

A new research paper dubbed 'Shielded Bitcoin' proposes bringing private payments to BTC by adapting Zcash's shielded transaction technology. The proposal suggests applying zero-knowledge proof techniques so Bitcoin payments could be made confidential while remaining verifiable. CoinDesk examined the paper, which is drawing attention in crypto circles to the long-running debate over privacy and compliance on public blockchains.

Crypto exchange Bitget says it will resume withdrawals of Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP, suspensions widely linked to a security incident, and is launching a bounty program offering 10% rewards for information leading to the recovery of stolen funds. Traders are watching for signs the platform's operations and liquidity are returning to normal as it works to reassure users and recover assets.

Four bitcoins stolen in the Bitget exchange hack have been traced moving through Wasabi, a privacy wallet known for its CoinJoin mixing service. On-chain tracking of the funds is drawing attention from security analysts, who follow hacker wallets to see whether stolen crypto can be recovered or will be laundered through mixing tools.

Centralized crypto exchanges reportedly saw net outflows of 31,782 bitcoin over seven days, worth about $2.52 billion, as holders moved funds into self-custody. Binance took the largest hit with roughly 19,500 BTC leaving the platform, while Coinbase Pro lost around 6,700 BTC. Commenters describe the flows as institutional accumulation and a sign that large investors are pulling coins off exchanges rather than preparing to sell.

Search interest in the BTC/USD pair has doubled across the United Kingdom this week, pointing to a sharp rise in British curiosity about Bitcoin's price. Observers are weighing whether the surge reflects retail investors looking to buy, institutional attention, or reaction to recent market moves, but no single driver has been confirmed.

Bitcoin miners CleanSpark and BitFuFu both reported lower production for September. CleanSpark's output dropped nearly 11%, while BitFuFu's fell 4%, and miner Canaan kept production flat at 44 BTC. The declines draw attention to operating conditions in the bitcoin mining sector this month.