Market Updates: Strategy Buys 13,927 Bitcoin, BitMine Adds 71.5K Ethereum, Circle Defends Freeze Policy After $280M Drift Exploit

Latest Market Updates: As of 13th April 2026.

Strategy Expands Bitcoin Holdings With $1 Billion Purchase

Strategy continued to deepen its exposure to Bitcoin by announcing the acquisition of 13,927 BTC, valued at approximately $1 billion. The company reported an average purchase price of $71,902 per coin.

Following this latest buy, Strategy’s total holdings rose to 780,897 BTC as of April 12, 2026. Its cumulative investment now stands at $59.02 billion, with an average cost basis of $75,577 per Bitcoin. The firm also reported a year-to-date Bitcoin yield of 5.6% for 2026, underscoring its ongoing conviction in the asset.

Strategy has acquired 13,927 BTC for ~$1.00 billion at ~$71,902 per bitcoin and has achieved BTC Yield of 5.6% YTD 2026. As of 4/12/2026, we hodl 780,897 $BTC acquired for ~$59.02 billion at ~$75,577 per bitcoin. $MSTR $STRC https://t.co/xVKjg2cEVP

— Michael Saylor (@saylor) April 13, 2026

BitMine Records Largest Weekly Ethereum Accumulation Since December 2025

While Bitcoin remained in focus, Ethereum also attracted significant institutional inflows. BitMine Immersion Technologies disclosed that it acquired 71,524 ETH over the past week, its largest weekly purchase since December 2025.

Subsequently, as of April 12, the company held 4.87 million ETH, representing roughly 4.04% of the total supply. This makes it the world’s largest known holder of Ethereum reserve.

To enhance returns, BitMine has staked 3.335 million ETH, currently valued at around $7.4 billion, and projects approximately $212 million in annual staking income.

In total, the firm reported $11.8 billion in combined crypto and cash holdings, including $719 million in liquid assets and equity investments.

Circle Responds to Criticism Following Drift Exploit

Elsewhere, USDC issuer Circle addressed mounting criticism over its handling of funds linked to a recent exploit. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul, CEO Jeremy Allaire stated that the company freezes wallets only when directed by law enforcement or court orders.

Notably, the comments follow a $280 million exploit involving Drift Protocol last week, described as a sophisticated, long-term attack involving social engineering techniques, potentially tied to North Korean actors.

On-chain investigator ZachXBT criticized Circle for failing to freeze approximately $230 million in USDC linked to the incident. The funds were reportedly bridged from Solana to Ethereum via Circle’s infrastructure.

In response, Allaire reiterated that Circle operates strictly within legal frameworks. He stressed that unilateral action by private firms in such cases could raise serious ethical and legal concerns.

U.S. SEC Relaxes Requirements for Certain DeFi Interfaces

Meanwhile, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued new guidance on crypto interfaces.

Specifically, the agency indicated that certain platforms, including DeFi front-ends, mobile applications, and wallet extensions, can operate without a broker-dealer registration, provided they meet specific conditions.

To qualify, platforms must avoid order routing, offering investment advice, or taking custody of user assets. They are also required to maintain fixed, neutral fee structures. The guidance applies to self-custodial wallet interfaces and is set to remain in effect for five years unless revised.

American Bankers Association (ABA) Criticizes White House Report on Stablecoins

At the same time, the American Bankers Association (ABA) criticized a recent White House advisory report on stablecoins, arguing that it overlooks key risks.

In particular, the group warned that yield-bearing stablecoins could draw deposits away from community banks, potentially increasing funding costs and constraining local lending.

Notably, the White House report had argued that yields on stablecoins may only drain 0.02%—just over $2 billion—from the banking sector, which is not very significant. Moreover, the report noted that such funds will remain within the overall U.S. financial system, rather than draining it.

However, the ABA has cautioned that rapid adoption of such instruments could outpace existing safeguards, leaving the financial system exposed.

According to the ABA, the current policy approach may underestimate the broader systemic risks associated with stablecoins growth.