On last night’s earnings call for Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), Michael Saylor and CEO Phong Le finally admitted that they’re considering selling the company’s bitcoin (BTC).

This sudden change undoes years of guidance and explicit assurances that Strategy would never sell. 

Specifically, Saylor and Le told analysts on the company’s first-quarter earnings webinar that Strategy will probably sell some BTC to pay a dividend, framing the move as a way to “inoculate” the market as to the company’s new strategy.

Le walked through scenarios in which the company would sell BTC to fund preferred dividends while remaining a “net buyer.” 

Truly, it’s a remarkable reversal of rhetoric.

In January 2022, with BTC down roughly 40%, Bloomberg asked Saylor whether Strategy would ever sell BTC.

“Never. No. We’re not sellers. We’re only acquiring and holding BTC,” Saylor swore to Bloomberg. “That’s our strategy.” 

In February 2024, Saylor reiterated that promise on Bloomberg TV. “There’s just no reason to sell the winner,” Saylor affirmed. “BTC is the exit strategy.”

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‘We call them poor’

In March 2024, Saylor told Yahoo Finance, “We believe that the highest, best use of capital is to buy BTC and hold the BTC.”

In that interview, Saylor delivered one of his most famous promises to never sell BTC which became the basis for a song and endless memes on social media.

Referencing a comparison of BTC to real estate, Yahoo Finance’s news anchor asked Saylor, “I don’t think that is your endgame, right? You’re not planning to sell the BTC at any point. So what is the purpose of it over time? You know, what do you do with the BTC besides it just gather value?… Most of the people who are buying assets at some point want to sell the assets at a profit.”

Saylor responded, “Let me say it a different way. People that use fiat currency as a store of value, there’s a name for them. We call them poor.”

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In his Q3 2024 earnings call, Saylor called BTC a “permanent treasury reserve asset” to be acquired and held indefinitely.

Read more: STRC controversy goes mainstream

‘Never. No. We’re not sellers’

In February 2025, Saylor reiterated his policy. “Never sell your BTC.”

Later that month, he published his 21 Rules of Bitcoin. Rule 20 stated clearly, “You do not sell your BTC.”

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Also that month, with BTC sliding below $80,000, Saylor escalated to organ donation. “Sell a kidney if you must, but keep the BTC.”

In March 2025, he said Strategy would “never sell” its BTC.

Four months later, he acknowledged the buying pattern that had become his persona: “I’m going to be buying the top forever.”

On CNBC’s Squawk Box TV show in February 2026, Saylor told Andrew Ross Sorkin: “We’re not going to be selling; we’re going to be buying BTC.” He added he expected the company would buy every quarter forever.

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He then spent five years telling shareholders that selling was unthinkable. Last night, he told them that rhetoric was merely a marketing tool.

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Bitcoin (BTC) cooled from new 13-week highs at Wednesday’s Wall Street open amid mixed signals over a US-Iran peace deal.

Key points:

• Bitcoin stops short of tapping $83,000 as momentum becomes guided by geopolitical developments.
• Oil sees flash volatility around rumors of the Strait of Hormuz opening.
• Bitcoin trader sees a price reset to a $78,400 trend line.

Iran deal let-down sours Bitcoin’s attack on $83,000

Data from TradingView showed a new local peak for BTC/USD of $82,833 on Bitstamp.

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The pair made fresh gains amid reports of a 14-point ceasefire agreement potentially coming into effect — one that would include resumption of oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Hours later, however, US President Donald Trump said that Iran’s agreement to the terms of the truce was “perhaps, a big assumption.”

“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” he added in a post on Truth Social.

Source: Truth Social

Bitcoin reacted by erasing its upside to circle $81,500 at the time of writing, still up around 1% on the day.

Oil also saw volatility, with WTI dropping over 10% in a matter of hours before rebounding to $96 per barrel.

CFDs on WTI crude oil one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Commenting on X, trading resource The Kobeissi Letter reported what it called “unusually large” short interest on WTI, which totaled nearly $1 billion, immediately before the drop.

Light crude oil futures chart. Source: The Kobeissi Letter/X

BTC price focus switches to $78,000 and higher

Bitcoin traders, meanwhile, looked to patches of potential liquidations on exchange order books for clues as to where price might head next.

Related: Bitcoin can crash to $50K if ‘most critical’ bear market test fails: Analysis

“Above, the $82.4K area still has some left. But price did take out most of the local liquidity from the past day. With price at 3 month highs, we would need to zoom out to see the other major levels,” trader Daan Crypto Trades told X followers. 

“Below, the $80.1K & $78.2K levels are good to watch if price were to trade into them.”

Crypto liquidation history (screenshot). Source: CoinGlass

Data from CoinGlass put total crypto liquidations over the past 24 hours at more than $550 million, with shorts accounting for $400 million of the total.

Trader CrypNuevo called BTC/USD “overextended” on short time frames, seeking a retracement to the 50-period simple moving average (SMA) on the four-hour chart. That stood at $78,432.

“Ideally it continues pushing straight higher without any exhaustion signs and it will overextend price even more so the short will be more atractive and worth it when we see those signs at higher prices,” he wrote on X.

BTC/USD four-hour chart with 50SMA. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Earlier, Cointelegraph reported on concerns that historical precedent called for the failure of Bitcoin’s current breakout attempt.

This article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice or recommendations. All investments and trades carry risk; readers are encouraged to conduct independent research.

Key Highlights

• Walt Disney delivered Q2 fiscal 2026 revenue of $25.2 billion, representing a 7% year-over-year increase and surpassing analyst expectations of $24.9 billion
• The company’s adjusted earnings per share reached $1.57, exceeding Wall Street’s consensus forecast of $1.49
• CEO Josh D’Amaro, in his first quarterly report, projected fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS growth of roughly 12%
• Streaming entertainment (SVOD) operating profit jumped 88% compared to the prior year, with margins crossing the 10% threshold for the first time
• Shares of Disney climbed nearly 8% during morning trading hours after the earnings announcement

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Shares of Walt Disney (DIS) surged nearly 8% during Wednesday’s morning session after the entertainment giant delivered a better-than-anticipated second-quarter performance for fiscal 2026, marking the debut earnings report under newly appointed CEO Josh D’Amaro.

For the quarter spanning January through March, Disney reported total revenue of $25.2 billion, reflecting a 7% year-over-year improvement. This performance exceeded Wall Street’s projection of $24.78 billion. Meanwhile, adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.57, comfortably beating the analyst consensus of $1.49.

The Walt Disney Company, DIS

D’Amaro, who assumed the chief executive role from Bob Iger in mid-March, outlined his strategic vision during the earnings conference call. His approach emphasizes creative excellence, streaming business expansion, capitalizing on live sports programming, and sustained capital allocation toward theme parks and cruise operations.

The entertainment behemoth plans to execute stock repurchases totaling at least $8 billion throughout the current fiscal year.

Streaming Business Reaches Key Profitability Threshold

The Entertainment division emerged as a standout performer. Subscription video on demand (SVOD) operating profit reached $582 million, marking an impressive 88% year-over-year surge. This achievement pushed streaming profitability above the 10% margin mark for the first time — a benchmark Disney had initially targeted for the entire fiscal year.

SVOD revenue climbed 13%, fueled by expanding subscriber counts and improved average revenue per user. Advertising income from Disney+ provided additional momentum. Theatrical releases including “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” continued generating strong box-office contributions throughout the quarter.

CFO Hugh Johnston highlighted that streaming operations now produce twice the revenue of Disney’s legacy television business, which he characterized as “getting smaller and smaller every quarter.”

Experiences Division Shows Strength Amid Challenges

The Experiences segment — encompassing theme parks, cruise operations, and merchandise — achieved record-breaking Q2 performance with revenue reaching $9.5 billion and operating income hitting $2.6 billion. The division’s operating profit advanced 5% versus the comparable prior-year period.

Per-capita spending increased at domestic theme park locations, while cruise vessels experienced higher occupancy levels. Nevertheless, Johnston acknowledged headwinds, noting decreased attendance at U.S. parks attributed partially to reduced international tourism and competitive pressure from Universal’s newly launched Epic Universe attraction in Orlando.

D’Amaro characterized current domestic consumer demand as “healthy” while acknowledging the company remains “mindful of the macroeconomic uncertainty consumers are facing.” Johnston mentioned rising gasoline prices as a factor under observation.

The Sports segment represented the weakest performance area. ESPN’s division recorded a 5% decline in operating profit to $652 million, pressured by escalating content licensing fees and increased production expenditures.

Johnston framed ESPN as a comprehensive content platform rather than a conventional broadcasting network — one capable of broad distribution and multi-platform monetization. He indicated the sports business is in earlier phases of its streaming transformation compared to entertainment properties.

Forward-Looking Projections

D’Amaro elevated the fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS growth forecast to approximately 12%, improving upon the previous “double digits” guidance. Third-quarter segment operating income is anticipated to reach $5.3 billion. Management reiterated expectations for double-digit adjusted EPS expansion in fiscal 2027.

Addressing artificial intelligence, D’Amaro described the technology as presenting “meaningful long-term opportunities” for Disney, particularly regarding production workflow optimization, while stressing that human creativity remains the cornerstone of the company’s operations.

Disney shares were trading approximately 7% higher as of Wednesday afternoon.

Swiss crypto bank Amina has added custody and trading support for Canton Coin, becoming the first regulated bank to offer services for the token tied to the Canton Network, an institutional-focused network.

In a Wednesday announcement, Amina said clients will gain regulated access to the Canton Network, a public blockchain designed for capital markets and tokenized finance. The network was developed by Digital Asset and is backed by the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, Visa, BitGo, Goldman Sachs and Citadel.

The move allows institutional clients to hold and trade Canton Coin through a banking platform regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) rather than relying on a crypto-native exchange or custodian, potentially supporting companies that use Canton for tokenization and settlement.

Source: AMINA Bank

The announcement builds on Amina’s broader push into tokenized finance infrastructure. In March, the Zug, Switzerland bank became the first regulated banking participant on the EU-regulated blockchain securities platform 21X, which operates under the bloc’s DLT pilot regime for tokenized securities markets.

Related: Tennessee Bankers Association names Stablecore as preferred digital asset provider

Canton expands institutional finance footprint

Canton Network is positioning itself as blockchain infrastructure for traditional financial institutions, with a focus on tokenized assets, settlement, collateral management and repo markets. Its Canton Coin token is currently valued at around $0.15, with a total market capitalization of $5.7 billion, according to CoinMarketCap data.

Canton Coin (CC) market capitalization. Source: CoinMarketCap

In April, BitGo expanded its Canton Coin services beyond custody to include trading and onchain settlement, broadening institutional access to the network’s token and related financial activity.

Meanwhile, S&P Dow Jones Indices recently brought its US Treasury Index benchmark onto the Canton Network, allowing institutions to access fixed-income benchmark data through tokenized infrastructure.

Canton faces competition from several enterprise blockchain networks targeting institutional finance. Among them is R3’s Corda, which was designed for banks and regulated financial markets with an emphasis on privacy and permissioned transactions.

Another competitor, Hyperledger Fabric, has seen broad adoption in enterprise blockchain environments, particularly among financial institutions and large corporations.

Related: Bernstein cites $4T tokenized credit opportunity for Figure Technology stock

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

Key points:

• Bitcoin is expected to face selling at $84,000, but a shallow pullback increases the likelihood of an upside breakout.
• Several major altcoins are showing strength at lower levels, but the bears are expected to pose substantial challenges at the resistance level.

Bitcoin (BTC) rallied above $82,800 on Wednesday, but bulls were unable to hold the higher levels. However, a positive sign for the bulls is that BTC exchange-traded funds recorded $1.63 billion in net inflows in May, according to SoSoValue data. That suggests investors are building positions as they anticipate the uptrend to continue. 

Analyst PlanC said in a post on X that BTC was about to enter its first supercycle, which began at the bear-market low of $16,000 in Nov. 2022. He expects BTC to rise above $250,000 in the second half of 2027 to the first half of 2028. 

Crypto market data daily view. Source: TradingView

Not everyone is convinced that the bear market is over. Crypto investment company TradingShot said in a post on X that BTC’s rejection at the 200-day simple moving average ($83,313), which coincides with the previous low acting as target objective of $50,000.

Could BTC and the major altcoins break above their overhead resistance levels? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.

Bitcoin price prediction

BTC has been gradually rising toward the $84,000 level, indicating sustained buying by the bulls. 

BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Sellers are expected to fiercely defend the $84,000 level, which could trigger a pullback toward the 20-day exponential moving average ($77,477). If the BTC price rebounds off the 20-day EMA with force, it signals a positive sentiment. That improves the prospects of a break above the $84,000 level. If that happens, the BTC/USDT pair may ascend to $92,000.

This bullish view will be invalidated in the near term if the price turns down and breaks below the $74,937 level. The pair may then decline to the 50-day SMA ($73,073) and later to the support line. 

Ether price prediction

Ether (ETH) has been trading above its moving averages, but the bulls have failed to break $2,465 resistance.

ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

That suggests hesitation to buy aggressively at higher levels. Sellers will attempt to seize control by pulling the price below the moving averages. If they do that, the ETH/USDT pair may descend to the support line.

Buyers are likely to have other plans. They will attempt to maintain the ETH price above the 20-day EMA ($2,309) and overcome the resistance at that level. If they succeed, the pair may rally to $3,050.

XRP price prediction

XRP (XRP) closed above the moving averages on Tuesday, opening the gates for a rally to the downtrend line of the descending channel pattern.

XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The downtrend line has acted as a stiff obstacle during previous recovery attempts and may do so again. If the price reverses from the downtrend line and breaks below the $1.27 level, it suggests the XRP/USDT pair may remain within the channel for a few more days.

On the other hand, a close above the downtrend line and the $1.61 resistance signal a potential trend change. The XRP price may then skyrocket to $2 and then to $2.40.

BNB price prediction

BNB (BNB) closed above the moving averages on Tuesday, indicating that the bulls are back in the game. 

BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Buyers are attempting to overcome the minor resistance at $654. If they can pull it off, the BNB/USDT pair may reach $687. Sellers are expected to defend the $687 level with all their might, as a close above it could clear the path for a rally to $730 and, subsequently, to $790.

Conversely, if the BNB price turns sharply lower from the overhead resistance and breaks below the moving averages, it signals that the pair may continue its range-bound action between $570 and $687 for some time.

Solana price prediction

Solana (SOL) broke above the moving averages on Tuesday and rallied close to the $90.73 overhead resistance on Wednesday.

SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The flattish moving averages and the RSI in the positive territory indicate a slight edge to the bulls. If the $90.73 level is scaled, the SOL/USDT pair may rally to the stiff overhead resistance at $98. Sellers are expected to vigorously defend the $98 level, as a close above it may propel the SOL price to $117.

Instead, if the price turns down and breaks below the moving averages, it suggests the pair may remain within the $76 to $98 range for a few more days.

Dogecoin price prediction

Dogecoin (DOGE) continued its march toward the $0.12 resistance level, where sellers are expected to step in.

DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

A shallow pullback from the $0.12 level suggests that the bulls are not hurrying to close their positions. That increases the possibility of an upside breakout. If the $0.12 resistance level is broken, the DOGE/USDT pair may jump to $0.14 and then to $0.16.

Alternatively, if the DOGE price turns sharply lower and breaks below the 20-day EMA ($0.10), it suggests that bears are aggressively defending the $0.12 level. That may retain the pair inside the $0.09 to $0.12 range for a while.

Hyperliquid price prediction

Hyperliquid (HYPE) charged higher on Tuesday, but the up move is facing resistance in the $43.76 to $45.77 zone.

HYPE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The 20-day EMA ($41.55) has started to turn higher, and the RSI is in positive territory, indicating that the path of least resistance is higher. If buyers pierce the $45.77 level, the HYPE/USDT pair may soar to $50.

The 50-day SMA ($40.22) is the critical support to watch out for on the downside. A break and close below the 50-day SMA suggests that the bulls have given up. The HYPE price may then tumble to $34.45.

Related: Zcash price may hit $800 as $2.7B hedge fund reveals ‘significant position’ in ZEC

Cardano price prediction

Cardano (ADA) cleared the 50-day SMA ($0.25) hurdle on Tuesday, indicating that the bulls are attempting a comeback.

ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The recovery attempt is expected to face selling pressure at $0.28, then at $0.30. If both levels are breached, the next target is likely $0.31, a critical resistance to watch. A break above $0.31 signals the start of a potential new up move.

This positive view will be negated in the near term if the ADA price turns down and breaks below the moving averages. That suggests the bears continue to sell on rallies. The ADA/USDT pair may then slump to the solid support at $0.22.

Bitcoin Cash price prediction

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) turned up from the $443 support on Tuesday and broke above the moving averages.

BCH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Buyers continued their buying and pushed the BCH price to $486 on Wednesday. However, the long wick on the candlestick shows that the bears are active at higher levels. That suggests the BCH/USDT pair may remain inside the large $486 to $419 range for a few more days.

Buyers will be back in the driver’s seat if they push the price above the $486 resistance and sustain it. That opens the gates for a rally to $520.

Zcash price prediction

Zcash (ZEC) turned up from the 20-day EMA ($389) on Thursday and rose above the $560 resistance on Wednesday.  

ZEC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The sharp rally over the past few days has pushed the RSI into overbought territory, signaling the possibility of a near-term consolidation or pullback. A shallow pullback from the current level suggests that the bulls are holding their positions as they anticipate the uptrend continuing. That increases the likelihood of a rally to the formidable resistance at $750.

A risk to the continuation of the up move is that sharp rallies are followed by equally sharp pullbacks. If the ZEC price maintains below $560, the ZEC/USDT pair may drop to the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level of $496 and then to the 50% retracement level of $462.

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes says his target for Zcash is 10% of Bitcoin’s price, arguing ZEC’s latest rally is early innings despite mounting pressure on privacy coins.

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes has set an aggressive upside target for privacy coin Zcash, telling followers on X that his “target price for ZEC is 10% of the BTC price.” In the same post, Hayes added that the current uptrend “still has a lot of room for growth,” signaling he believes the recent move in ZEC is just the early phase of a larger cycle.

While Hayes did not publish a full valuation model alongside the remark, the 10% anchor implies a substantial potential upside relative to current market levels. If Bitcoin were trading at $90,000, for example, a 10% ZEC/BTC ratio would suggest a ZEC price near $9,000; at $70,000 BTC, it would point to about $7,000 per ZEC. For context, Zcash’s all‑time high in late 2016 briefly spiked above $3,000 on thin order books before settling into a range that has mostly been under $1,000 for years.

Hayes has long been known for making bold macro and altcoin calls, frequently using his personal X account and essays to lay out high‑conviction, high‑volatility trades. His latest ZEC comment fits that pattern, leaning into a narrative that privacy‑focused assets could see renewed demand if regulatory surveillance ramps up or if Bitcoin’s transparent ledger becomes a liability for certain users.

The timing is notable. Privacy coins like Zcash and Monero have faced delistings on several major centralized exchanges in recent years amid anti‑money‑laundering scrutiny, even as on‑chain usage has persisted in more niche venues. That regulatory overhang makes sustained institutional inflows into ZEC less likely in the near term, but it has not stopped sharp, speculative spikes whenever market sentiment swings back toward high‑beta plays.

Hayes’s 10% of BTC target is not a consensus view among analysts, and he did not specify a timeframe for when he expects ZEC to reach that level. But for traders who track his calls, the message is clear: in his view, the current ZEC move is far from exhausted, and the coin’s upside, relative to Bitcoin, remains significant if the right mix of narrative, liquidity, and risk appetite comes together.

Standard Chartered has been recognised with two major awards by The Banker, highlighting the growing importance of Islamic finance across global banking markets.

The international banking group was named “Islamic Bank of the Year” and also received the “Most Innovative Sukuk” award for its role in ADNOC’s debut international sukuk issuance.

The recognition reflects increasing momentum in the Islamic finance sector, which continues expanding across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa as demand grows for Shariah-compliant banking, investment, and capital market solutions.

According to industry projections referenced by the bank, global Islamic finance assets are expected to reach approximately $7.5 trillion by 2028, representing one of the fastest-growing segments in international finance.

Khurram Hilal, CEO of Islamic Banking at Standard Chartered, said the sector is evolving beyond domestic markets as affluent investors and institutions increasingly seek cross-border Islamic finance opportunities.

The bank stated that its Islamic finance platform supports a wide range of clients, including affluent individuals, corporations, and institutional investors, with services spanning wealth management, financing, liquidity solutions, and sukuk structuring.

Sukuk markets in particular have seen increasing institutional demand in recent years as governments, sovereign wealth funds, and major corporations across the Gulf region continue diversifying funding sources and attracting international investors.

The awards also underline the UAE’s broader ambition to strengthen its position as a leading global hub for Islamic finance and Shariah-compliant capital markets.