Bitcoin has lagged equities as expectations for Federal Reserve rate hikes have risen, Grayscale Investments said. The firm argued bitcoin could narrow that performance gap if policymakers refrain from raising rates. In its view, shifting rate expectations have contributed to diverging moves across bitcoin, stocks and gold.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao described the current Bitcoin downturn as a typical four-year cycle, arguing that each cycle establishes a higher floor. He framed the pullback as relatively mild compared with prior drawdowns. Zhao said the key point is that the cycle’s floor keeps rising.

Traders on prediction market Kalshi are pricing just a 19% to 22% chance that bitcoin crosses $100,000 before January 2027, with more than $10 million wagered on timing contracts tied to the CF Bitcoin Real-Time Index. Bitcoin was trading near $64,600 as of Monday, June 22, 2026. The contracts imply the market expects bitcoin to remain below the $100,000 level through 2026.

Bitcoin opened the final week of June by rebounding from a Sunday low of $63,197 and climbing to an intraday high of $65,555. After regaining $64,000 by midnight, it extended gains in the morning before slipping back below $65,000 following a brief sell-off. The move came as markets weighed the latest developments in U.S.-Iran peace negotiations.

Strive Inc. (NASDAQ: ASST) bought 759 Bitcoin between June 15 and June 21 at an average price of $65,850 per coin. The company spent roughly $50 million, lifting its total holdings beyond 19,800 BTC, according to an 8-K filing disclosed on June 22. The latest per-coin price was about 11% lower than Strive’s major Bitcoin purchase in May.

Strive, Inc. added 759 bitcoin to its balance sheet last week as it pushes a debt-free treasury strategy that makes BTC its central reserve asset and performance benchmark. The Nasdaq-listed company, which trades as ASST, said it bought the bitcoin between June 15 and June 21. It paid an average price of roughly $65,850 per BTC, including fees and expenses.

An analyst outlined a worst-case setup in which Bitcoin could drop to about $24,000. The scenario hinges on a broader stock-market crash that would drag risk assets lower. Separately, commentary pointed to bearish technical patterns and weakening institutional demand that could add pressure.

Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor said in a post on X that the company made another Bitcoin purchase. The company acquired 520 BTC for approximately $35 million at an average price of $67,068 per coin. It also raised and retained an additional $300 million in cash, taking its total USD liquidity reserve from $1.1 billion to $1.4 billion.