Crypto Ends First Half of 2026 in Red, With Bitcoin Outperforming Strategy

Cryptocurrencies weakened alongside other risk assets in the first half of 2026, putting both Bitcoin and Ether under pressure. The correction also hit Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy; Nasdaq: MSTR), a major corporate holder of Bitcoin, highlighting the heightened share-price volatility companies can face when using their balance sheets to bet on crypto.

By the end of June 2026, Bitcoin had fallen 32% in the first half, Ether had dropped 47% and the total cryptocurrency market capitalization had shrunk by about 30%, though no exact dollar amount was disclosed. Strategy shares plunged 43% over the same period. Despite ending the half in the red, Bitcoin fell 11 percentage points less than MSTR, making it relatively more resilient.