NEW YORK, Jan 14, 2026, 10:35 EST
- Bitcoin surged past $96,000 following Strategy’s announcement of a $1.25 billion acquisition
- The deal was partly funded by a new variable-rate preferred stock, STRC
- A Strategy director made an unusual insider move by purchasing common shares
Bitcoin surged to a two-month peak Wednesday as Strategy revealed a $1.25 billion bitcoin purchase, sending its shares higher. Investors often see such moves as a signal for crypto-linked stocks. On Tuesday, U.S.-listed spot bitcoin ETFs recorded their largest daily inflows in nearly three months, fueling a risk-on vibe.
Strategy, once known as MicroStrategy, has become the most prominent publicly traded “bitcoin treasury” firm — one that raises funds to pile up bitcoin. According to a recent U.S. securities filing, the company bought 13,627 bitcoin between Jan. 5 and Jan. 11, shelling out $1.247 billion at an average of $91,519 per coin. That lifts its stash to 687,410 bitcoin total. The firm said these purchases were financed by selling Class A common shares and its variable-rate Series A perpetual “Stretch” preferred stock, ticker STRC. SEC
Stretch aims to resemble a high-yield instrument rather than a standard crypto bet: Strategy notes that STRC now offers an 11% annual dividend rate, adjusted monthly. Its structure is designed to keep the price close to its $100 par value. The upcoming record date is Jan. 15, followed by the next payout on Jan. 31.
CoinDesk highlighted the preferred as an expanding component of Strategy’s funding engine, reporting that STRC saw $175.7 million in trading on Monday—almost triple its 30-day average volume. They called it an “iPhone moment” for the product line. CoinDesk
Executive chairman Michael Saylor highlighted the acquisition on social media, revealing that Strategy bought 13,627 bitcoin for roughly $1.25 billion, averaging around $91,519 per coin. The company held 687,410 bitcoin as of Jan. 11.
The company’s bitcoin purchases have intensified shifts across the broader crypto market, as traders keep an eye on key indicators like Coinbase Global for clues on whether retail activity and trading volumes will pick up.
Inside Strategy, confidence showed up in a tangible way. Barron’s revealed that director Carl Rickertsen scooped up 5,000 common shares at an average cost of $155.88 on Monday. This marks the first insider buy of the common stock since 2022, following a steep drop in the share price over recent months.
The situation can shift quickly. A Yahoo Finance analysis this week identified an $88,000-$92,000 bitcoin range as a key near-term stress test for sentiment on Strategy, cautioning that a clear drop below this band might weigh on the stock’s valuation and its premium relative to the underlying coins.
Strategy is still vulnerable to potential rule shifts that might impact demand for its shares. Last week, MSCI delayed its plan to remove “digital asset treasury” firms from its indexes. That eased some short-term pressure on Strategy, though the question of its long-term index eligibility remains open. reuters.com
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