Investing.com– Bitcoin pulled back slightly from three-month highs on Thursday, with its recent rally stalling after top corporate holder Strategy flagged plans to potentially trim its holdings.
But the crypto and broader markets still remained upbeat, as hopes for a U.S.-Iran de-escalation drove strong gains across risk-driven markets.
fell 1.6% to $80,372.0 by 09:52 ET (13:52 GMT). The world’s largest crypto surged nearly 12% in April, benefiting from a mix of bargain buying and markets holding out for more de-escalation in the Iran war.
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Recent headlines have furthered Bitcoin’s rally in early-May, especially as both the U.S. and Iran said that negotiations were going well. A host of reports said that the two were also nearing a deal– a notion that sparked strong gains in risk-driven markets this week.
Bitcoin rally stalls as Strategy signals potential sales
Bitcoin’s surge cooled near three-month highs after top corporate holder Strategy Inc (NASDAQ:) said it was considering selling some of its holdings.
Strategy said the sales would be likely aimed at paying dividends, especially 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 seen garnering strong demand. But this gives the company more dividend payment obligations.
Chairman Michael Saylor did not specify the size of Strategy’s potential sales, but noted that the firm intended to buy back more Bitcoin.
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.
Kraken parent acquires stablecoin firm Reap for $600 million
Kraken’s parent company Payward has agreed to buy Hong Kong-based Reap Technologies for $600 million, in a move to deepen its foothold in Asian stablecoin payments infrastructure, the company announced Thursday.
Reap offers stablecoin-based payment services for cross-border and business transactions, bridging conventional financial systems with digital assets to facilitate international money flows.
The deal comes shortly after Payward closed its purchase of Bitnomial, a CFTC-licensed derivatives exchange, for up to $550 million, signaling an accelerating push by the crypto firm to broaden its product and geographic reach.
The acquisition will be funded through a mix of cash and stock, with Payward issuing shares at a $20 billion valuation, co-chief executive Arjun Sethi told Bloomberg.
Crypto price today: altcoins stall with Bitcoin
Broader crypto prices also largely stalled with Bitcoin on Thursday. World no.2 crypto declined 2.2% to $2,316.03.
fell 1.4%, traded flat, while and edged marginally higher.
Among memecoins, fell around 3%, while rose 0.2%.
(Scott Kanowsky and Vahid Karaahmetovic contributed reporting)
