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Strategy Shares Pop as Bitcoin Holdings Flip Green, Near $61 Billion
TL;DR
Strategy shares rose 10% to $164 as Bitcoin's price increased to $77,200, marking the firm's holdings back in the green for the first time since February. This surge followed Iran's declaration of open shipping lanes amid a ceasefire in the Middle East.
Key points
- Strategy shares jumped 10% to $164
- Bitcoin's price increased to $77,200
- Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz open
- Strategy's Bitcoin holdings are valued at $60.5 billion
- First gains for Strategy since early February
Mentioned in this story
StrategyStrait of HormuzIranIsraelLebanon
In brief
- Strategy shares jumped 10% to $164 on Friday after Iran declared that the Strait of Hormuz was “completely open” to commercial ships for the remainder of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
- The Bitcoin-buying firm’s stockpile showed gains on paper for the first time since early February as Bitcoin bounced to $77,200.
- The crypto market's weaker price momentum and lingering investor caution remains concerning, according to IG Group's Alex Rudolph.
Strategy shares surged on Friday as cooling tensions in the Middle East and Bitcoin’s ensuing rally propelled the firm’s massive digital stockpile back into the black.
The company’s stock price had jumped 10% to $164 by 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, according to Yahoo Finance. The Tysons Corner, Virginia-based firm saw shares soar above $173 earlier in the session, marking their highest peak since mid-January.
Bitcoin had climbed 4.1% over the last 24 hours to trade near $77,200, according to CoinGecko. After accumulating nearly 781,000 Bitcoin at an average price of $75,577, Strategy saw its $60.5 billion bet thrust into the green for the first time in three months with the move.
The shift likely offered a reprieve for Strategy co-founder and Executive Chairman Michael Saylor, whose firm—the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder—had been under fire as paper losses ballooned into the billions as the asset dipped to $65,600 this year.
“Bitcoin and chill,” Saylor said in an X post on Friday, sharing an apparently AI-generated image of himself lounging shirtless on a luxury yacht in a pair of orange shorts.
Friday’s bounce followed a declaration from Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, that the Strait of Hormuz was “completely open” to commercial ships for the remainder of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that took effect late on Thursday.
Strategy shares were on track for their best daily performance in over a month, a move that “highlights just how sensitive these names are to shifts in broader risk sentiment, rather than purely crypto-specific drivers,” IG Group Market Analyst Alex Rudolph told Decrypt.
Bitcoin and Chill. pic.twitter.com/1WVPIEEBT4
— Michael Saylor (@saylor) April 17, 2026
Q&A
What caused Strategy shares to increase by 10%?
Strategy shares increased by 10% due to Iran declaring the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial ships and Bitcoin's price rally.
How much Bitcoin does Strategy hold and what is its current value?
Strategy holds nearly 781,000 Bitcoin, which is valued at approximately $60.5 billion, now showing gains for the first time in three months.
What is the current price of Bitcoin and its recent performance?
Bitcoin is currently trading near $77,200, having climbed 4.1% in the last 24 hours.
What are the implications of the ceasefire in the Middle East for the crypto market?
The ceasefire in the Middle East has contributed to reduced tensions, positively impacting market sentiment and leading to a rally in Bitcoin prices.
