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

Solana memecoin frenzy sends PumpSwap trading volume to record $1.2 billion

Despite high trading volumes, PumpSwap's fee generation remains modest, with $2.98 million in fees recorded on Monday.

U.S. dollar (Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

Markets

XRP's 9% surge leads crypto as bitcoin climbs to 6-week high near $95,000

Bakkt, Figure and Hut 8 were among numerous crypto-related stocks posting double-digit percentage gains.

Rocket

Markets

BNB token ticks higher as technical upgrades frame tight price compression

Technically, BNB is compressed between rising support and a descending resistance zone near $910, indicating a balance rather than a clear direction.

BNB Rises 1.7% to $901.83 Amid Volume Surge but Hits Resistance at $902-$908

Markets

Bitcoin eyes $94,000 as crypto prices manage early U.S. gains for second straight session

Digital asset treasury companies — 2025's worst performers — were leading crypto-related stock gains.

Bull statue

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Finance

Bitmine Immersion adds 33,000 ETH, bringing total crypto and cash holdings above $14 billion

Led by Chairman Tom Lee, the company now holds 4.14 million ether (ETH), or 3.4% of the total supply.

Screenshot of Tom Lee on CoinDesk TV (CoinDesk)

Markets

Goldman Sachs upgrades Coinbase to buy, cuts eToro to neutral

The bank said it is 'selectively constructive' on brokers and crypto companies heading into 2026.

Coinbase

Markets

Ethereum can move beyond Bitcoin-style limits as new scaling tools mature: Vitalik Buterin

PeerDAS is already live on Ethereum's mainnet, while zkEVMs are at an advanced stage, focusing on safety and scalability.

Vitalik Buterin (CoinDesk)

Markets

Memecoin comeback talk builds as DOGE, SHIB, BONK rally in early 2026

High concentration in major wallets, particularly for shiba inu, contributed to potential volatility in the market.

(CoinDesk Data)

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Markets

Strategy boosted bitcoin holdings and cash reserve last week

The Michael Saylor-led company added 1,287 BTC and $62 million in cash via the sale of common stock.

Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor (Danny Nelson, modified by CoinDesk)

Markets

Bitcoin dips, but quickly recovers as U.S. captures Venezuela's Maduro

The U.S. overnight launched a military strike against Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and extracting them from the country.

CoinDesk