Stephen Alpher

Stephen is CoinDesk's managing editor for Markets. He previously served as managing editor at Seeking Alpha. A native of suburban Washington, D.C., Stephen went to the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, majoring in finance. He holds BTC above CoinDesk’s disclosure threshold of $1,000.

Stephen Alpher

Latest from Stephen Alpher


Tech

Solana developers outline plan to protect network from quantum threats

Two of the network’s core developer teams, Anza and Jump Crypto’s Firedancer, have landed on the same solution: a new type of digital signature called Falcon.

Quantum Computing Optics (Ben Wicks/Unsplash)

Markets

Bitcoin is climbing on thin volume, leaving rally vulnerable to macro shock

Low trading volume and a lack of conviction from big-money bettors could leave the bitcoin rally on shaky ground, said 10x Research head Markus Thielen.

CoinDesk

Markets

Michael Saylor’s Strategy buys 3,273 bitcoin as it inches closer to its 1 million target

Strategy, the largest corporate holder of bitcoin in the world, now holds 818,334 BTC, which it said it purchased for nearly $62 billion at an average price of roughly $75,537 per token.

MicroStrategy executive chairman and co-founder Michael Saylor. (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk)

Markets

Five times President Trump made a statement that moved bitcoin, and why it might happen again this week

Trump’s social media posts and statements to news reporters have triggered 5% to 12% swings in the price of bitcoin, blurring the lines between policy and market manipulation.

U.S. President Donald Trump at a Republican congressional event in Florida (capture from White House video)

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Finance

Inside the rise of wrench attacks against crypto holders and how France has become the focus

France has seen 41 crypto-related kidnappings this year, roughly one every 2.5 days, prompting authorities to step up security.

Every two to three days, a crypto investor or executive is kidnapped or their home invaded by criminals who have some how found out they have digit5al assets. ((Stephanie LeBlanc/Unsplash)

Finance

Stripe doubles down on blockchain and stablecoins, aiming to become 'AWS for money'

Demand is emerging fastest in the Global South and cross-border use cases, where cards fail and currencies are unstable, said Adrien Duchâteau, Stripe's crypto GTM lead.

Adrien Duchâteau, Head of Crypto GTM at Stripe (RWA Summit)

Markets

Strategy proposes semi-monthly dividends on its popular STRC preferred stock

"[The] proposed changes are intended to stabilize price, dampen cyclicality, drive liquidity, and grow demand," said Executive Chairman Michael Saylor.

Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor at the Digital Asset Summit in New York City on March 20, 2025. (Nikhilesh De)

Markets

Beaten-down digital asset treasury names lead crypto stock surge as bitcoin hits $78,000

Oil prices slumped as Trump said Iran committed to open the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. plans to acquire that country's enriched uranium as part of a deal.

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Markets

Back in the black: Strategy surges 8% as bitcoin's rise to $77,000 puts holdings in profit

Bitcoin climbed above its 100-day moving average, while Strategy moves back above its 200-week trend level.

Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor at the Digital Asset Summit in New York City on March 20, 2025. (Nikhilesh De)

Markets

Bitcoin rises past $76,000, aiming at major breakout as oil plunges on Iran cooldown

Iran's foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz will remain completely open for the remainder of the ceasefire.

Oil tanker at sea. (Gerhard Traschütz/Pixabay)