Bitcoin-Focused MicroStrategy’s S&P 500 Ambition Faces Continued Delays
MicroStrategy's persistent pursuit of S&P 500 inclusion remains unrealized as the Bitcoin-centric company was bypassed in the latest index rebalance in favor of SanDisk. Despite demonstrating robust financial projections and strategic readiness during their Q2 earnings call, where President Phong Le forecasted $34 billion in operating income by year-end, the company must now wait another three months for the next potential opportunity. This development highlights the ongoing challenges faced by cryptocurrency-focused enterprises in gaining mainstream financial market recognition, even as they demonstrate significant financial performance and market influence. The repeated exclusion raises questions about the traditional financial sector's acceptance of Bitcoin-centric business models and the criteria used for prestigious index inclusions.
Will Michael Saylor’s Strategy Ever Join the S&P 500?
MicroStrategy's ambition to join the S&P 500 remains unfulfilled as the Bitcoin-focused firm was overlooked again in the latest rebalance. SanDisk secured the coveted spot instead, leaving Michael Saylor’s company waiting for another opportunity in three months.
During its Q2 earnings call, MicroStrategy executives emphasized readiness for large-cap status. President Phong Le projected $34 billion in operating income by year-end—a figure surpassing giants like Walmart and Pfizer. Yet, despite this financial heft, the company ranks just 96th by market cap among S&P 500 candidates.
Le framed MicroStrategy as uniquely undervalued, citing its Bitcoin-backed strategy and a P/E ratio lower than 95% of S&P constituents. The inclusion of crypto-native firms like Coinbase and Block in the index offers a glimmer of hope, but regulatory and market perception hurdles persist.
Bitcoin Spot ETFs Snap Four-Week Outflow Streak with $70M Weekly Influx
US Bitcoin Spot ETFs have reversed a month-long downturn, posting $70.05 million in net inflows during the final week of November. The rebound aligns with Bitcoin's price recovery, offering respite after consecutive weeks of withdrawals since late October.
Fidelity's FBTC led the resurgence with $230.44 million in inflows, while Grayscale's GBTC and BTC, alongside Ark Invest's ARKB, contributed $31.65 million collectively. BlackRock's IBIT bucked the trend with $137.01 million in outflows, though it maintains a dominant $62.57 billion cumulative inflow. Bearish pressure persisted on Bitwise's BITB and VanEck's HODL, shedding $18.10 million and $36.95 million respectively.
Bitcoin Miners Face Rising Difficulty Amid Hash Price Squeeze
Bitcoin's mining difficulty is poised for another upward adjustment in December, with projections suggesting a marginal increase to 149.80 trillion from 149.30 trillion. The latest adjustment saw a drop to 149.3 trillion, pushing average block time slightly below the 10-minute benchmark at 9.97 minutes.
Hash prices linger NEAR $38.3 PH/s, a precarious level for miners whose break-even point hovers around $40 PH/s. Below this threshold, operations risk becoming unprofitable, forcing miners to power down equipment or absorb losses. The October market crash exacerbated pressures, with hardware suppliers reporting dwindling orders and miners pivoting to self-mining to offset thin margins.
Capital expenditures and computational demands are reshaping strategies across the sector. As difficulty climbs, inefficient operators face existential reckoning—survival now hinges on relentless optimization.
Bitcoin Price Prediction: Robert Kiyosaki Sounds Crash Alarm Amid Yen Unwind Liquidity Risks
Bitcoin edged higher to $91,400 as traders balanced improving technical signals against mounting global liquidity concerns. The cryptocurrency's $1.82 trillion market cap positions it squarely in macro debates, particularly after Robert Kiyosaki warned of an impending financial reset.
The 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' author's latest caution coincides with a two-pronged liquidity squeeze: Japan's fiscal policy shift and tightening U.S. funding markets. While Kiyosaki traditionally champions bitcoin as inflation armor, current pressures stem from mechanical capital outflows rather than philosophical monetary debates.
Japan's policy pivot—marked by increased government spending and rising bond yields—has accelerated yen weakness. This unwind of carry trades, where cheap yen previously financed global risk-taking, now drains liquidity across asset classes. "Japan's carry trade ended. Watch out below," Kiyosaki tweeted, signaling potential turbulence ahead for bubble markets.
Bitcoin Faces Sustained Sell-Off Amid Institutional Exodus and Liquidity Drain
Bitcoin's downward spiral continues unabated, marking its worst monthly performance since June 2022. The cryptocurrency finds itself caught in a perfect storm of institutional selling, evaporating liquidity, and waning holder confidence.
ETF outflows tell a grim story—$3.5 billion fled Bitcoin investment products in November alone, the largest monthly withdrawal since February. "Institutional investors have stopped allocating to Bitcoin," notes Markus Thielen of 10X Research. "These ETFs have become net sellers, creating persistent downward pressure."
The bleeding extends beyond spot markets. Stablecoin reserves—the lifeblood of crypto trading—have shrunk by $4.6 billion this month. Nearly $800 million converted back to fiat in just one week, signaling a broader capital exodus. "Money isn't just staying on the sidelines—it's actively leaving the ecosystem," Thielen observes.
With miners capitulating and macroeconomic uncertainty looming ahead of the December FOMC meeting, the path of least resistance appears decidedly downward. The market now faces its sternest test since the 2022 crypto winter.
BlackRock's Bitcoin ETFs Dominate Revenue as IBIT Nears $100 Billion Milestone
BlackRock's Bitcoin exchange-traded funds have surged to the top of the asset manager's revenue charts, with its U.S. IBIT and Brazilian IBIT39 products approaching $100 billion in cumulative inflows. The achievement marks a watershed moment for cryptocurrency adoption by traditional finance giants.
"When we launched, we were optimistic, but we didn't expect this scale," said Cristiano during the Blockchain Conference in São Paulo. The executive revealed the Bitcoin ETFs now outperform 1,400 other BlackRock funds globally, despite representing just a fraction of the firm's $13.4 trillion assets under management.
IBIT's trajectory has shattered records since its January 2024 debut following SEC approval. The fund became the fastest in history to amass $70 billion in assets, achieving the feat in just 341 trading days. Current net assets stand at $70.7 billion despite Bitcoin's volatility, according to SoSoValue data.
The product's $52 billion net inflows during its first year eclipsed all other ETF launches of the past decade. By October 2025, IBIT was generating approximately $245 million in annual fees—a testament to institutional demand following U.S. regulatory approval. BlackRock now controls over 3% of Bitcoin's total circulating supply through its ETF holdings.
