Cryptocurrencies have experienced a declining trend today, with market anxieties deepening as the exchange opened. The downward trajectory is influenced heavily by developments surrounding Strategy and Japan’s financial market moves. Bitcoin has recently dropped to a daily low of $83,822, while MSTR shares are also hitting new lows. These movements have triggered the liquidation of assets valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. Additionally, Strategy’s MNAV is nearing a critical threshold of 1.
Strategy (MSTR) Developments
The company, which holds 650,000 BTC, announced that they acquired an additional 130 BTC in the past week. Alongside this, Strategy revealed a cash reserve of $1.44 billion, aiming to secure dividend payments and dispel fears. However, their downward revision of 2025 earnings targets due to BTC negativity has accelerated the decline of MSTR stocks.
Strategy’s MNAV has seen a 7% decrease by dropping to 1.11 today, compared to 1.2 last Friday. This rapid devaluation has been outpacing the fall of Bitcoin itself, potentially complicating MSTR’s future ability to access borrowed funds. A scenario where they might need to sell BTC and buy back shares arises if MNAV falls below 1. Similar strategies by other cryptocurrency reserve companies have previously ushered them onto perilous paths.
Last Friday, the company’s CEO, Le, mentioned that as a last resort, they could sell BTC if MNAV falls below 1. This has been shared as a crucial development. The current decline feeds largely off the intense fear surrounding Strategy, producing unique conditions unseen even during major events like the FTX collapse. If the market bottom corresponds to peak fear, it might be approaching soon.
Wider Cryptocurrency Decline
Over the last 52 weeks, MSTR shares have fluctuated between $166 and $457, dropping over 40% in November alone. Beyond Bitcoin, the company has written down losses, adjusting end-of-year BTC estimates from $150,000 to a price range of $85,000 to $110,000. Their operating income forecasts now range from a loss of $5.5 billion to a profit of $6.3 billion.
Compounding these issues are hawkish remarks from the Bank of Japan, which added to the negativity in risk markets and adversely affected cryptocurrencies. While gold and silver have gained, cryptocurrencies, classified under risk assets, face sell-offs triggered by fears of a carry trade collapse. Last month, Japan’s $100 billion preventive measures hinted at these concerns as we noted bond yields hitting peaks not seen since 2008.
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda recently stated that the pros and cons of a potential rate hike would be evaluated at the December 18th-19th meeting, heightening concerns over an increased likelihood of rate hikes. Without dovish comments from global financial leaders like Powell to stabilize global liquidity swings, these could foreshadow even more considerable losses.