Bitcoin has maintained its rally above $123,000, breaking that level on Friday and posting a 10% gain for week 39—its strongest weekly performance of the year, according to CoinDesk data.
Crypto stocks tied to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Performance Computing (HPC) are outperforming peers without such exposure. Cipher Mining (CIFR) rose 5% to $15.40, nearing all-time highs, while BitDigital (BTBT) gained 3% to $3.61. Iris Energy (IREN) jumped 5% to $53, also reaching record levels, and CleanSpark (CLSK) climbed more than 3% to $16.46, revisiting highs last seen in November 2024.
BTC treasury-focused companies, lacking AI/HPC components, are underperforming. Metaplanet (3350) fell 5% to 591 yen, while MicroStrategy (MSTR) gained only 2% pre-market to $359.
Year-to-date performance underscores the divergence: Iris Energy (IREN) up 382%, Cipher Mining (CIFR) 205%, Metaplanet 74%, MicroStrategy (MSTR) 17%, and BitDigital (BTBT) 12%.
The disparity highlights investors’ growing preference for Bitcoin-linked companies that leverage AI and HPC, signaling a widening split within the sector.
