Live updates: Bitcoin tops $86,000, while Saylor returns to BTC buying

Bitcoin climbed above $85,000 on Monday, briefly trading near $86,000 as a wave of short-liquidation buying hit crypto markets. The rally lifted crypto-linked stocks, coincided with several corporate crypto moves and saw renewed buying by Strategy (MSTR) after a brief pause.

By AI Newsroom· Reviewed by Pranav, Founder & Editor-in-ChiefPublished about 2 hours agoUpdated about 2 hours ago0 views

Live updates: Bitcoin tops $86,000, while Saylor returns to BTC buying

Why It Matters

The price move pushed bitcoin back above the average U.S. spot ETF cost basis for the first time since January, amplifying institutional and retail activity across crypto-linked stocks and exchange flows. Large liquidations and fresh corporate purchases highlight how concentrated trading positions and treasury buys continue to drive volatility.

Key Facts

bitcoin intraday price: Briefly topped $86,000; traded around $84,700-$85,000 in European session
short liquidations (1 hour): Just over $300 million; about $313 million of positions liquidated in the hour, roughly 96% were shorts
short liquidations breakdown (1 hour): Bitcoin accounted for about $226 million and ether about $59 million
24-hour liquidations: Just above $710 million across nearly 135,000 traders; largest single liquidation $11 million on Binance
u.s. spot etf cost basis: $82,225 (bitcoin reclaimed this level)

Bitcoin rallied Monday, pushing past $85,000 and briefly touching the mid-$86,000s as concentrated short-liquidation activity accelerated buying pressure. CoinDesk data showed bitcoin near $84,700 during the European session before the move higher, while liquidation trackers recorded roughly $313 million of positions closed in one hour, about $226 million of which were bitcoin shorts and about $59 million ether shorts.

The jump in crypto prices supported gains in publicly traded firms tied to the sector. Strategy (MSTR), the largest corporate holder of bitcoin, climbed after resuming BTC purchases following a three-week pause and is now positive for the year, up about 5% year-to-date. Other stocks in the space — including Securitize (SECZ), Bitmine (BMNR), Coinbase (COIN), Galaxy Digital (GLXY), BitGo (BTGO) and Circle (CRCL) — also advanced, with the Nasdaq 100 rising in tandem amid a broader risk-on tone.

Corporate treasury activity and institutional buys accompanied the rally. Bitmine added 27,562 ether last week, equal to roughly $75 million at Monday prices, bringing its holdings to about 5.98 million ETH. Strive Asset Management purchased 1,355 bitcoin for $107.7 million at an average price of $79,475, increasing its total holdings to 26,355 BTC and raising cash and equivalents to $229.6 million after warrant exercises and capital issuance.

On the retail and platform side, Coinbase announced it will let eligible customers request IPO shares at offer price beginning with Oura’s listing this week, joining other brokerages that already offer retail IPO access. Market metrics also noted that with bitcoin above $85,000, it has reclaimed the average U.S. spot ETF cost basis of $82,225 for the first time since January. Over the prior 24 hours, liquidations totaled just over $710 million across nearly 135,000 traders, with the largest single position closed at $11 million on Binance.