Bitcoin rebounds above $70,000 while Mastercard launches crypto partner program with 85+ companies and Strive adds 179 BTC to balance sheet.
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Bitcoin reversed overnight losses to trade above $70,000 Wednesday morning, recovering from earlier declines as corporate crypto adoption signals strengthened. The move coincided with oil's renewed decline and steady inflation data that met forecasts.
Mastercard announced a new Global Crypto Partner Program uniting over 85 companies to integrate blockchain payments into everyday commerce, marking a significant step toward mainstream digital asset adoption. Separately, Strive (ASST) added 179 bitcoin to its balance sheet while raising its preferred stock dividend rate to 12.75%, demonstrating continued institutional appetite for crypto exposure.
The crypto recovery comes as markets have fully priced out Federal Reserve rate cuts for March and April meetings following Wednesday's in-line inflation data. Bitcoin's resilience above the $70,000 threshold suggests institutional demand remains robust despite macro uncertainty.
Corporate bitcoin adoption continues accelerating, with companies like Strive following MicroStrategy's playbook of adding digital assets as treasury reserves while traditional payment giants like Mastercard build infrastructure for broader crypto integration.