Bitcoin Surge Lifts Crypto Stocks in U.S., Europe

As bitcoin BTC held above $118,000 after hitting a record high, U.S. crypto stocks showed gains in pre-market trading.

Strategy (MSTR), the holder of the biggest BTC stash among publicly traded companies, rose more than 3% and BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) added 4%. Crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) gained 2.5%. In Europe, The Blockchain Group (ALTBG), which is also building a bitcoin treasury, surged 12%.

Mining companies, in particular, experienced significant pre-market rallies. Bit Digital (BTBT) climbed 6%, MARA Holdings (MARA) 4%, Cipher Mining (CIFR) 5% and Hive Digital (HIVE) 7%.

One exception was Circle Internet (CRCL), the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, whose share fell 0.28% in pre-market trading.

The gains took Strategy's year-to-date climb to 40%, compared with just 26% for BTC itself. MARA is up 10%, BTBT 11% and Cipher (CIFR) 29%.

Cantor Equity Partners (CEP), which is in the process of becoming a listed bitcoin investment company called Twenty One Capital, is up 5% after finishing Thursday’s session 9% higher. Asset Entities (ASST) is also up over 5%.