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


Markets

Bitcoin just cleared $73,000, but skeptical traders are already bracing for a 'bull trap'

Bitcoin has broken above $73,000 after weeks of consolidation, but traders remain divided over whether the move marks a genuine breakout or another trap for late buyers.

(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Markets

Coinbase, Strategy lead crypto stocks higher as bitcoin spikes above $72,000

Crypto-related equities saw large gains at the Wednesday open, rebounding from Tuesday's selloff.

Black upward arrow in a white circle (Unsplash)

Markets

Bitcoin 'air pocket' above $72,000 could mean quick run to $80,000

Data shows an extraordinarily thin supply between $72,000 and $80,000, suggesting there's little resistance in that range.

CoinDesk

Finance

Stablecoin giant Tether invests $50 million in sleep technology startup Eight Sleep

The firm behind the $183 billion USDT stablecoin is expanding beyond its crypto roots to longevity and artificial intelligence.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino (Modified by CoinDesk)

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Markets

Circle shares boosted by Middle East tensions, rising oil, fading rate cut hopes, says Mizuho

The stock has risen about 20% since the U.S. strikes on Iran over the weekend.

(Sandali Handagama/ CoinDesk)

Tech

AI agents will be primary users of blockchain, NEAR co-founder says

Polosukhin argues that AI will become the primary interface layer for everything online, including crypto, abstracting away wallets, explorers and transaction hashes.

NEAR co-founder Illia Polosukhin (Margaux Nijkerk/ CoinDesk)

Web3

Aave governance rift deepens as major governance group exits $26 billion DeFi protocol

The conflict centered on a proposal to fund product development and expansion, which ACI opposed due to concerns over self-voting and lack of transparency.

Chess piece being moved (Ahmed/Unsplash+/Modified by CoinDesk)

Finance

Eric Trump’s American Bitcoin buys 11,298 ASIC miners, increasing mining capacity by 12%

The move stands in stark contrast to the company's peers, many of whom are moving away from or totally abandoning the business of bitcoin mining.

Eric Trump speaks at Consensus 2025 in Toronto (CoinDesk)

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Markets

Bitcoin attempting to make a stand as global stock markets melt down on Iran war

Having already plunged in the months leading up to the Middle East conflict, crypto markets so far aren't making new lows this week.

Stylized bull-bear faceoff

Markets

End of bitcoin 'HODL': public miners going all-in on AI, signaling more BTC selling

Public bitcoin miner balance sheets are shifting as capital rotates from bitcoin treasuries to AI infrastructure.

CoinDesk