Cipher Digital Inc. (NASDAQ:CIFR) stock rose on Thursday as investors revalued the company toward a pure-play Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Performance Computing (HPC) hosting model.

The transition to a data center infrastructure model decoupled the equity from the broader cryptocurrency market downturn.

AI Pivot Versus Crypto Decline

While pure-play digital asset equities declined, CIFR increased as much as 10% on Thursday.

The total cryptocurrency market capitalization decreased 4.52% to $2.15 trillion, pressured in part by the Federal Open Market Committee decision led by Kevin Warsh on Wednesday.

Leadership Expansion and Grid Strategy

The gains followed Tuesday’s announcement that…

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Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas says Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) remains his preferred financial asset, arguing that fiat currencies are being debased globally.

Investors should treat crypto more like long-term property than a short-term trade, according to the billionaire.

“I Turn Fiat Into Bitcoin“

In a CoinDesk interview on June 17, Salinas highlighted his exposure to Bitcoin has increased during the recent market pullback. Over the past year, BTC prices plunged around 40%.

“As soon as I get my hands on some fiat, I turn it into Bitcoin,” Salinas said.

The Grupo Salinas chairman clarified that earlier comments about his wealth being heavily allocated to Bitcoin referred to his liquid…

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Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) dropped back below $63,000 on Thursday as the broader crypto market shed 4%.

Why Is Crypto Falling While AI Stocks Hit New Highs?

The divergence between crypto and AI-linked equities is widening sharply. 

Moreover, Kevin Warsh’s FOMC decision Wednesday is adding pressure. Warsh held rates but provided no forward guidance, leaving markets pricing only a 15% chance rates stay flat through December. 

Nine committee members already project a rate hike before year-end. The 2-year Treasury yield heading higher repeats the pattern seen before prior rate hike cycles, and a stronger dollar at current levels historically compresses crypto prices.

Why Are STRC And SATA Both At… Read more on Benzinga

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) remains under pressure, but FalconX Head of Trading Strategy Hassan Baseri says institutional traders are increasingly looking at Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) and Hyperliquid (CRYPTO: HYPE) as higher-conviction opportunities.

What Happened

Speaking on June 18 on the Milk Road Show, Baseri highlighted the dominant trade among institutional clients has been “short crypto, long AI,” as artificial intelligence stocks continue absorbing market attention and capital.

However, within crypto, Baseri said traders are watching Ethereum and Hyperliquid closely, while Bitcoin remains clouded by concerns around Michael Saylor's Strategy <a class="ticker-link" data-ticker="MSTR"…

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Hyperliquid, Aster, And The Hard Truth About Decentralized Exchanges In The US – Benzinga

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While most are looking at the recent public feud between Changpeng…

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“Worst Crypto Winter”

In a series of posts on X and a recent Privacy Podcast appearance, Ben-Sasson described the current downturn as “the worst crypto winter” he has witnessed since entering the industry in 2013.

Over the past month, BTC and ETH have eroded more than 16% amid geopolitical uncertainty and capital rotation into AI-focussed companies.

Despite improving prices and growing institutional interest, he argued that crypto remains in the middle of an identity crisis.

Ben-Sasson attributed the recent market recovery primarily to macroeconomic developments rather than industry-specific catalysts.

“Crypto will be the new rails for TradFi and financial institutions, or crypto will…

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DonAlt Lays Out The Death Loop In Plain Terms

When the market drops, STRC depegs, Saylor sells Bitcoin below his average to repeg it, which pushes Bitcoin lower, forcing more Bitcoin sales.

When the market recovers, he issues more STRC at higher Bitcoin prices and the cycle repeats with a higher cost basis each time.

Peter Schiff added the immediate damage. STRC closed at $89, meaning buyers who paid $100 par value at launch are down 11%. 

New buyers now get a 12.92% yield. If Saylor raises the coupon to 13% to attract demand, he must sell more MSTR at a deeper discount to fund it. If he does not raise the yield, STRC keeps falling.

Saylor’s Counter: Refusing To Sell Bitcoin Would Destroy… Read more on Benzinga