The move caps a volatile stretch for the stock following sharp drawdowns earlier this month.

Strategy, which holds the largest bitcoin position of any public company, has seen its equity trade as a high-beta proxy for bitcoin, with gains and losses often magnified relative to spot price movements.

As bitcoin pushed toward the upper end of its recent range near $97,000, MSTR followed with a rapid upside move that outpaced the broader equity market.

The rally builds on momentum that began late last week after Strategy disclosed another large bitcoin purchase, adding more than 13,000 BTC to its balance sheet.

The acquisition lifted the company’s total holdings to roughly 687,000 bitcoin, reinforcing its long-stated approach of accumulating BTC through a mix of operating cash flow, equity issuance, and capital markets activity.

Executive Chairman Michael Saylor has framed the strategy as a long-term bet on bitcoin as a superior store of value and a treasury reserve asset.

Market participants say the size and consistency of Strategy’s purchases have helped re-anchor the bull case for the stock after weeks of pressure tied to bitcoin’s pullback and concerns around dilution.

While critics continue to point to leverage risk and accounting volatility, supporters argue that Strategy’s balance sheet has become one of the most direct institutional on-ramps to bitcoin exposure in public markets.

Sentiment also improved following signs of insider confidence. A recent open-market purchase by a company director marked the first such buy in several years, standing out in a period when insider activity had largely consisted of scheduled sales.

Strategy’s recent MSCI drama

Structural factors added to the rebound. Earlier this month, index provider MSCI opted not to remove bitcoin-focused treasury companies from certain benchmarks, easing fears of forced selling by passive funds.

That decision reduced near-term downside risk for Strategy, which has grown increasingly sensitive to index flows as its market capitalization expanded during bitcoin’s 2024 and 2025 rallies.

Still, Strategy’s model remains closely tied to bitcoin volatility. The company reported large unrealized losses in prior quarters as accounting rules required it to mark down bitcoin holdings during price declines.

Those losses reversed only when prices recovered, creating earnings swings that traditional equity investors often struggle to price.

Wednesday’s jump above $189 highlights the reflexive nature of the trade. As bitcoin strengthens, Strategy’s equity also strengthens and attracts momentum-driven capital seeking leveraged exposure.

Australia's Federal Court has ordered local cryptocurrency exchange operator Kraken to pay a fine of A$8 million (US$5.1 million), according to Australia's corporate watchdog Reuters.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) last year brought civil proceedings against Bit Trade, which operates the Kraken exchange in Australia, for failing to comply with the rules for yourMargin Trading Product.

ASIC stated that Bit Trade failed to identify the right customers for a new margin trading product, resulting in losses of more than $5 million.

"Bit Trade released its product and made it available to over 1,100 Australians who were charged over $7 million in fees and interest without first checking whether the product was suitable for them," the statement said.ASIC.

Product Bit Trade enables enhanced margin, a form of credit or loan that can be issued and repaid in either digital assets such as Bitcoin or national currencies such as US dollars.

The regulator, however, said the fine was the first of its kind against an organization that had not defined its target market.

Bitcoin Price Weekly Outlook

Bitcoin buyers made a nice push to $94,000 resistance again last week, but the price promptly sold off again from this level to close the week out at $90,891. Sunday’s close gave us a doji candle, indicating indecision and a potential reversal back in the bears’ favor. The bulls are once again looking lethargic as they lack the follow-through necessary to overtake resistance. Bears are in the driver’s seat heading into this week. Look for them to try to push the price down through the $87,000 support level to make another attempt at breaking $84,000 support.

Key Support and Resistance Levels Now

The bulls are looking for support at the $87,000 level to hold if bears manage to keep the push lower going here. $84,000 still sits as strong support below here, but will weaken with any further pressure. If the bears can manage to break this support, the price is sure to accelerate down to the low $70,000 area, with a close below $68,000 required to lose this support level. Below this zone, bulls will look to gain some sort of strength off the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement at $58,000.

Bears will look to defend the $91,400 level as resistance over the short term here. The resistance at $94,000 has done its job so far, but it will be under heavy pressure if bulls can muster the strength to get the price back up there. Above $94,000, there is a resistance zone that stretches from $98,000 up to $103,500. Above here, we have another resistance zone from $106,000 up to $109,000 at the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement from the drop from the top down to $80,000.

Outlook For This Week

Wounded bulls need some help to hang on to momentum this week. Look for the bears to push the price down to $87,000 early in the week and possibly below it. Bulls will try to stop the price from closing any days below $87,000. If the bears manage a daily close below here, $84,000 support will be under heavy threat, and the bulls will need buyers to step up to the plate with some big volume to hold this support level once again.

Market mood: Bearish – After a weekly shooting star doji candle close, the bulls’ momentum has faded. The bears have tilted control slightly in their favor to start this week.

The next few weeks
Price action may remain choppy and confined within a range over the next few weeks. Bulls need to see a close above $94,000 to break above this range and look for upward momentum, while bears need to see a close below $84,000 to try to break down below this major support level. Between $94,000 and $84,000 is now a neutral zone, where bulls and bears may battle back and forth. Neither side is poised to take firm control of the price action until either of these boundaries is broken.

Terminology Guide:

Bulls/Bullish: Buyers or investors expecting the price to go higher.

Bears/Bearish: Sellers or investors expecting the price to go lower.

Support or support level: A level at which the price should hold for the asset, at least initially. The more touches on support, the weaker it gets and the more likely it is to fail to hold the price.

Resistance or resistance level: Opposite of support. The level that is likely to reject the price, at least initially. The more touches at resistance, the weaker it gets and the more likely it is to fail to hold back the price.

Shooting Star Candle: A candlestick that occurs after an uptrend, marked by a long wick upwards above the candle body and a smaller wick (or no wick) to the downside. The long wick up indicates strong selling near the highs. This candle can often indicate the end of an uptrend.

Doji Candle: A candlestick that closes at nearly the same price at which it opened. This candle indicates indecision, and can signal a reversal in price action if it occurs after an uptrend or downtrend.

Fibonacci Retracements and Extensions: Ratios based on what is known as the golden ratio, a universal ratio pertaining to growth and decay cycles in nature. The golden ratio is based on the constants Phi (1.618) and phi (0.618).

In 2024, crypto scammers received at least $9.9 billion.The most common schemes remain Financial pyramid and romance scams, which continue to bring billions of dollars in revenue to fraudsters.

This was reported by analytics firm Chainalysis. Experts note that this amount may increase as new illegal addresses linked to financial fraud are identified throughout the year.

One of the most popular schemes remains high-yield investment fraud (HYIS), based on the principles of the financial pyramid. In 2024, this scheme is responsible for 50.2% of all funds received by fraudsters, although its share in the total fraud volume decreased by 36.6% compared to 2023.

At the same time, the so-called pig slaughter, also known as romance fraud, is becoming increasingly popular. Its share of the total fraud volume increased by 40% and reached 33.2%. In this scheme, attackers build trusting, often romantic relationships with victims and then convince them to invest in fictitious cryptocurrency platforms or fundsinvest.

Analysts note that fraudsters are actively using artificial intelligence to enhance their schemes. Generative neural networks help them create fake documents for verification on exchanges and financial services. According to Alterya, 85% of fraud cases involve accounts that traditional identity verification systems successfullybypass.

Most illegally obtained funds are transferred to centralized exchanges (CEX). However, decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols are also actively used, including on the Ethereum, Tron and Solana blockchains. In addition, since mid-2023, the role of the Huione Guarantee platform has increased, facilitating not only money laundering, but also a wide range of illegal services forprovides crypto criminals.

Given the scale of fraud, financial regulators and analytics firms are stepping up their efforts to combat cryptocrime. They are using artificial intelligence and new methods to identify suspicious transactions and thus track illicit cash flows more effectively.

Although preliminary estimates indicate some decline in fraudsters' income in 2024, the actual numbers could be record-breaking. Analysts note an average growth of 24% in fraudulent revenue in the annual reporting period. Thus, losses to victims of crypto fraudsters could exceed $12 billion by the end of the year.

Libdogecoin v0.1, a Dogecoin building block C library that enables direct and easy integration of Dogecoin into various platforms without requiring developers to have extensive blockchain knowledge, was recently released in early August, according to an announcement by core developer Michi LUMIN. Libdogecoin makes it easy for everyonemake to develop a product that conforms to the Dogecoin standard as it is a pure library without the ability to “run” a node.

The introduction that follows the integration highlights the Dogecoin Foundation's core, utility-focused approach. This is believed to be possible by supporting the community's ability to innovate by exposing Dogecoin's core functionality as a simple C library with bindings for multiple languages. Libdogecoin also serves as the foundation for projects such as RadioDoge and GigaWallet that aim toTo bring Dogecoin ecosystem to a state ready for rapid mass adoption.

Image: Watcher Guru

However, this type of trading officially began in 1998, when the US Securities and Exchange Commission permitted the use of electronic devices in stock market trading to transmit, receive and process orders.

Algorithmic trading has gained popularity both in the foreign exchange market and in the stock and derivatives markets, as well as among institutional investors who work in hedge funds and seek large capital turnover in order to make speculative profits. With the development of the crypto industry, high-frequency trading is actively used in this area. The largest and most reliable cryptocurrency exchanges, including Bitfinex and Poloniex, even promote this type of trading, among other things because they are responsible for each transactionreceive a commission regardless of whether the client loses or makes money. According to some data, high-frequency trading accounts for up to 40% of stock trading volume in the US and about 80% in the crypto industry.

It should be noted that high-frequency trading (HFT) is only intraday trading and all investor positions must be closed by the end of the session. However, this type of trading has a number of advantages: transactions are executed at the highest speed, information is processed incredibly quickly, and the placement and cancellation of orders also occurs almost instantaneously (transactions are opened and closed in tenths and sometimes hundredths of a second).Among the big onesAdvantages of such trading also include the opportunity to check the effectiveness of a trading strategy and achieve larger profits per unit of time.

In addition, the automation of work allows the investor to save a lot of time and provides the opportunity to trade on several platforms at the same time. At the same time, unlike people, trading robots are devoid of emotions, which often prevent traders from making informed decisions. Virtual traders are always one step ahead because they are able to quickly and in a timely manner see what a normal investor cannot see on their platformIdentify trading triggers that may go undetected by others, even experienced traders.

The key competencies of a high-frequency trader therefore include: hedging risks, automating processes, searching for market inefficiencies, high transaction speed, data analysis, ensuring stable profit growth over long distances, and searching for market patterns. At the same time, such a trader completely lacks professional burnout.

However, to use high-frequency trading, an investor cannot use a regular computer with standard programs installed. This type of trading requires high performance, as well as the installation of special software, which requires significant investments.At Finam broker you can rent a virtual PC.Connect to the stock exchange using your own trading robot.Choose between renting a personal computer and a virtual server in the colocation zone of the Moscow Stock Exchange with a speed of 10 Gbit/s.

High-frequency trading can be learned at any age, but to understand it you need perseverance, persistence and attention. All this can bring tremendous results, as it greatly simplifies the investment process. A trader who has learned this type of trading analyzes the algorithm throughout the day, monitors changes in the operation of the exchange, examines new opportunities or looks for new inefficiencies, sets the predetermined rules and then loads them into the algorithm.After giving authority to the robothas delegated, the trader can do whatever he wants, or even sleep, and the robot executes transactions according to a ready-made scheme. Since the robot can handle more tools than a person in a day, the return on investment is many times higher.

Despite the fact that algorithmic trading offers huge advantages that allow you to increase trading profits and reduce the burden on the investor, robots still have their problems and this type of trading carries certain risks. One such risk is an unexpected failure of the exchange or algorithms, as a result of which the trader can suffer large losses (since robots carry out a large number of transactions in a short period of time). One such example is the history of the hedge fundKnight Capital, which took place in August 2012. Due to a technical error in the trading algorithm, the fund lost about $ 460 million in literally 40 minutes. To minimize such risks, risk control is required - market participants must monitor the quality of their algorithms and regularly carry out professional audits.

In addition, an unexpected loss of Internet connection can also cause a disruption in the algorithm. In this context, HFT data transmission technologies are of great importance. For HFT robots, where every microsecond of delay is crucial, microwave communication is faster than fiber optic communication and connects large financial centers. For this reason, many HFT companies use microwave technology to achieve a speed advantage. In this case, the optimal solution may include both technologies at the same time: microwave forcritical connections and fiber optic for the transmission of large amounts of data as a backup channel.

For investors using algorithmic and HFT trading, Finam broker provides direct access to exchanges using a range of DMA services.Direct Market Access allows you to send orders directly to the exchange and receive market information directly from trading platforms without using the broker's trading systems. This set of services allows quick execution of orders and access to market data - 1000-5000 times faster than a standard connection through a brokerage system.Exchanges are accessed in less than 50 microseconds.

At the same time, the trader can get access through proprietary and universal protocols, and margin trading is also available with post-trade collateral control and accounting technologies.It is worth noting that other advantages of direct access to exchanges include: asingle connection point to all markets of the Moscow Stock Exchange, low network latency when accessing markets and the ability to establish a redundant connection.

• PIPPIN rises by 31 percent: Memecoin euphoria drives up short-term price
• Exchange stocks are falling: Investors secure 2.2 million PIPPIN tokens
• Futures traders remain cautious: financing rates now neutral to negative

The PIPPIN price has risen sharply in the last 24 hours and is up 31 percent after falling for several days.This increase corresponds to the better developments in memecoins.

Although this move is drawing attention, many traders are cautious.You are wondering whether this can lead to a sustainable trend change.

Pippin holders continue to buy - price jump causes a stir

The demand for PIPPIN has increased significantly in the last 24 hours.On-chain data from Nansen shows PIPPIN holdings on centralized exchanges are declining.

Decreasing stocks on exchanges often show that many coins are being transferred to private wallets.This may be an indication of collecting coins and not an immediate sale.

During the same period, investors purchased approximately 2.2 million PIPPIN tokens.This buying behavior shows more confidence after the price rise.

Fewer coins on the exchanges can temporarily reduce selling pressure.This gives the price support while market participants reconsider their opinion on the token.

However, data on derivatives shows a less positive mood.Futures markets suggest that traders are not very bullish.Funding rates were briefly positive at the end of January third.This means that there were more long positions than short positions when the price began to rise.

But the positive mood didn't last long.At this point in time, financing rates are again neutral or even negative.This shows that traders are more likely to prepare for falling prices than for further increases.

This uncertainty makes it clear that PIPPIN's direction is unclear.When traders hesitate on futures, spot market rallies also struggle to sustain. The lack of bullish pressure shows that many are expecting a decline rather than a breakout.

Course: Still great catch-up potential

PIPPIN is currently at around USD 0.488, just below the resistance at USD 0.514.The memecoin has risen sharply from the support at $0.366, which explains the current gain of 31 percent.However, the price is now at an important limit as buyers reach a familiar hurdle.

Whether the increase continues depends on whether the community continues to invest.PIPPIN is still around 47 percent below the previous record of USD 0.720.In order for the price to attack this level, it would first have to make $0.600 support.This probably requires more conviction and greater participation in the market.

If the break above USD 0.514 fails, the previous pattern could repeat itself.If sellers regain control, PIPPIN could fall below USD 0.434.A sharper decline towards $0.366 would refute the bullish assumption and make the increase appear to be a short recovery.

But what is this process and what does wine have to do with it and how can you make money from it?Let's look at it in detail.

What is wine tokenization?

Tokenization is, first of all, about transferring ownership of a physical bottle of wine into digital form. This is possible thanks to blockchain technology, which is used to create NFTs - unique digital tokens associated with a specific asset. Such tokens store data about the bottle: origin, characteristics and ownership history.

How does it work?

1.The manufacturer creates an NFT tied to a specific bottle of wine.

2.The token is recorded in the blockchain - a database in which the data cannot be changed or falsified.

3.The physical bottle remains in the custody of the manufacturer or in a special storage facility.Token holders can transfer their rights to others, sell the token or exchange it on the platform that issues it.

For example, you buy a token for a bottle of collectible wine. This token gives you the right to remove the bottle from storage in the future or sell it on a digital platform. Storage facilities are usually under the control of certified companies, which eliminates the risk of product damage. At the same time, owners often insure their bottles to protect them from unforeseen situations.

What is the value of tokenization

At first glance, tokenization may seem overkill for an industry that deals in a physical product. However, the technology has several key advantages.

1.Anti-counterfeiting

Fake wine remains one of the main problems in the market. This is especially true in the premium segment. Blockchain data ensures complete transparency of the supply chain: from the winery to the final buyer. That is, with the help of an NFT tied to a specific bottle, the buyer can check the history of verified records of each stage of its production and movement.

2.Simplify your investment

Collectible wines have traditionally been an attractive asset for investors, but physically owning bottles carries risks: they must be properly stored, insured and protected from damage. Tokenization eliminates these problems.

In addition, an investor who has purchased a token can sell it on a digital platform without even interacting with the physical product.

3.Scalability and availability

Tokenization reduces the barrier to entry into the collectible wine market. For example, you can buy a token that represents a portion of a barrel of wine, rather than the entire bottle. This makes the market more accessible to younger investors or those who want to dabble in this space.

How does this fit with the investment market?

It is important to understand how wine tokenization differs from other forms of investment. For example:

• Traditional wine funds: Such funds require significant investments and their liquidity is limited. Tokenization allows assets to be sold faster on digital platforms.

• Physical purchase of wine: The classic form of ownership requires storage and transportation costs, which makes it less convenient. Tokenization solves these problems.

However, like any asset, tokens are dependent on market liquidity. Unlike funds or exchange-traded instruments, demand for wine tokens is limited to investors and collectors, which can impact their value.

Usage Examples

BlockBar

This platform partners with brands like Hennessy and Bacardi to offer buyers NFTs that prove ownership of premium beverage bottles. Physical products are stored in professional vaults and token holders can trade them or gain access to exclusive events.

Château Angélus

A French winery offered tokens tied to barrels of 2020 Angelus wine. Buyers not only received the right to the products, but also exclusive privileges - such as the opportunity to visit the farm during the harvest.

Project from Russia: “Chardonnay 2019”

In 2024, Nikolaev and Sons Winery, together with PSB Bank, launched a wine tokenization project. Token holders can either physically pick up the bottle or sell the token on the Tokeon platform. This project became one of the first examples of the use of technology in the Russian market.

Unlike NFTs, which are more commonly used on international platforms, this project uses so-called Digital Financial Assets (DFAs). Technically, these are also tokens on the blockchain, but they were developed in accordance with Russian legislation.

Advantages and Limitations

Every new technology has its advantages and risks. Wine tokenization is no exception.

Why it is beneficial:

• Transparency: The blockchain system allows complete verification of the origin of the product.

• Easy transactions: Transferring ownership takes place in just a few clicks.

• Reduced storage risks: Bottles remain under the control of professionals, preventing damage.

What are the restrictions:

• Legal uncertainty: Russian DFAs already fit into the legal framework and are regulated by the Bank of Russia, but remain illiquid for the global market. And vice versa: NFT is a universal token format that can be traded not only on the market of the issuing platform, but also on common crypto platforms or generally directly between userscan.But the regulation of this market as a whole is still in limbo.

• Technical Difficulties: You must understand platforms, software, wallets and digital signatures and also take responsibility for storing the token.

• Limited liquidity: Unlike other financial instruments, wine tokens do not yet have sufficient liquidity.

Who is this for?

Wine tokenization is a tool for investors, collectors and producers.For investors, this is an opportunity to invest in world-class assets without unnecessary complications.For collectors, this is a way to protect their collections from counterfeits.For producers, a new way to interact with their audience.

However, mass adoption of the technology will take time. Legal and technical hurdles remain a serious obstacle. Therefore, tokenization remains a niche tool, but one that offers growth potential, especially in the premium segment of the market.

New York, Dec. 11 (Jiji Press) - Holding company Coincheck Inc. debuted on the Nasdaq Global Market, becoming the first Japanese cryptocurrency exchange to list in the United States

Coincheck, controlled by Japanese online broker Monex Group Inc., intends to expand its presence in the US and Japanese markets, where there is active growth in the cryptocurrency sector. The expansion is planned to be financed with funds raised in the initial public offering of shares of the holding company Coincheck Group NV.

On the first day of trading, Coincheck Group shares closed at $13.35, giving the company a market capitalization of approximately $1.7 billion (approximately 260 billion yen). It entered the American market through a merger with a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC).

According to Monex Group Chairman Matsumoto Oki, publicly traded stocks will be used as a "currency" to acquire new assets as part of Coincheck's growth strategy to be implemented next year.