Crypto Stocks Swing Wildly After Bitcoin Tops $100,000
Crypto-focused companies' shares had a volatile Thursday as bitcoin traded above $100,000 and then retreated.
MicroStrategy (MSTR), a business intelligence services provider that is the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, saw its stock rise as much as 10% intraday but finished some 4% lower. Crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) rose before ending the day off 3%.
Other stocks that rose early and ended lower included bitcoin mining companies Riot Platforms (RIOT) and Mara Holdings (MARA). Both finished the day down more than 4%.
Wednesday's news that President-elect Donald Trump picked Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission had helped drive the latest round of gains for bitcoin and other crypto assets.
Atkins, an SEC Commissioner under former President George W. Bush, has worked lately on issues related to digital assets. Atkins would replace crypto critic Gary Gensler, who said he would step down in January.
The promise of a more crypto-friendly administration has propelled bitcoin prices more than 50% higher since the day before Trump’s election win. Bitcoin recently traded closer to $95,000 after earlier topping $103,000.
