Bitcoin fell to $59,000, its lowest level since 2024, amid sustained bearish pressure that has pushed the cryptocurrency down 28 % year‑to‑date and 40 % on the yearly chart. At the time of writing, the price hovered around $62,732. The decline has been linked to a collapse in demand from one of the market’s largest institutional buyers, Strategy Inc., the company led by Michael Saylor.

Strategy Inc. has been the top public purchaser of Bitcoin in 2026, financing its acquisitions through the issuance of high‑yield Variable Rate Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock, ticker STRC. Analysts noted that STRC was designed to maintain a $100‑per‑Bitcoin peg, reflecting Saylor’s target price for the asset. In late May, the share price slipped below $100, falling to $91 before recovering to $93. The breach of the peg was described as a turning point: with the peg broken, Strategy halted new share issuances, effectively stopping fresh Bitcoin purchases.

The pause in buying coincided with a forced sale of 32 BTC, valued at roughly $2.5 million, to cover dividend payments. The sale added to the downward pressure on the market and triggered a sharp decline in STRC’s share price. The move was reported by several market data feeds and confirmed by the company’s own financial disclosures.

Saylor and other defenders of the strategy have maintained that Bitcoin’s resilience is not dependent on any single holder. On X, Saylor wrote, "Fundamentalalist seek to protect Bitcoin from corruption, capture, or compromise." He has repeatedly emphasized that Bitcoin remains an open network for all participants, from capitalists to technologists.

Lyn Alden, the founder of Lyn Alden Investment Strategy, has also weighed in. She criticized market bears who argue that a 4 % stake could cripple the network, stating, "I happen to think it’s more robust than that." Alden’s comments were shared on her social‑media channel and echoed in several analyst reports.

The current market trajectory appears to hinge on Strategy’s next actions. If the firm continues to sell Bitcoin, especially as STRC trades below the $100 target, the price could fall further. Conversely, a resumption of buying would likely temper the bearish trend and provide a foundation for recovery.

In summary, Bitcoin’s recent slide below $60,000 is tied to the failure of Strategy Inc.’s peg‑maintaining share, the halt in new share issuances, and a forced Bitcoin sale to fund dividends. While defenders argue for the network’s robustness, the market remains sensitive to the company’s future buying or selling decisions.