Bitcoin surpasses $95,000 after new technical purchases

Bitcoin rose on Wednesday after Strategy, the world’s largest institutional holder of the cryptocurrency, announced a $1.3 billion Bitcoin purchase, although the token trimmed part of its gains as data showed continued weakness in retail investor demand.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency climbed 3.4% to $95,001.9 by 01:01 a.m. US East Coast time (06:01 GMT). Bitcoin had touched a nearly two-month high of $96,033.3 late on Tuesday.

Strategy buys $1.3 billion worth of Bitcoin in largest deal since July

Bitcoin’s gains were primarily driven by Strategy, led by Michael Saylor, which disclosed the purchase of 13,627 Bitcoins at an average price of $91,519 per coin, for a total value of $1.25 billion.

Following the transaction, Strategy’s total Bitcoin holdings rose to 687,410 coins, reinforcing its position as the largest publicly listed corporate holder of Bitcoin globally.

The purchase marked Strategy’s largest Bitcoin acquisition since July 2025 and was financed through the sale of common and preferred shares.

The deal helped ease concerns over a slowdown in Strategy’s Bitcoin accumulation, particularly after the company had purchased only limited amounts since mid-December.

However, Strategy’s shares have lost nearly 50% of their market value since the start of 2025, amid growing concerns over the long-term viability of its Bitcoin-centric strategy. This has prompted widespread selling of the stock, with additional pressure stemming from the ongoing decline in Bitcoin prices, raising fears that the company could be forced to sell part of its crypto holdings to meet debt obligations.

US retail demand for Bitcoin remains weak as Coinbase discount signals pressure

Retail demand for Bitcoin in the United States remained subdued, with the cryptocurrency trading on Coinbase Global at a discount to the global average price.

Bitcoin’s price on Coinbase is widely used as a gauge of US retail investor appetite, given the platform’s dominant share of the American market.

Data from Coinglass showed that Bitcoin continues to trade at a discount on Coinbase relative to global prices, pointing to persistent weakness in demand from individual investors.

The data also indicated that Bitcoin has been trading at a Coinbase discount since mid-December, coinciding with a broader downtrend in the token’s average price over the same period.

Cryptocurrency prices today: altcoins outperform Bitcoin

Other cryptocurrencies outperformed Bitcoin on Wednesday, partly supported by US inflation data for December that broadly matched expectations. Core consumer prices came in slightly below estimates but were in line with November’s reading.

However, the data were not sufficient to alter market expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged at its late-January meeting.

Ether, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, rose 6.1% to $3,325.22 after trimming some intraday gains, while XRP advanced by around 4%.