Stephen Alpher

Stephen is CoinDesk's managing editor for Markets. He previously served as managing editor at Seeking Alpha. A native of suburban Washington, D.C., Stephen went to the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, majoring in finance. He holds BTC above CoinDesk’s disclosure threshold of $1,000.

Stephen Alpher

Latest from Stephen Alpher


News Analysis

Semler Scientific Studied MicroStrategy’s Success Before Adopting Bitcoin Strategy

Purchasing bitcoin for the company balance sheet came following “soul searching” about how to provide value to shareholders, Eric Semler told CoinDesk.

(Brock Wegner/Unsplash)

Markets

Bitcoin Whales Increased Holdings During Crypto Market Mayhem, but ETF Investors Didn't Buy the Dip

Though posting net outflows on Monday, the spot ETF action did show some positive surprises, Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas noted.

(Todd Cravens/Unsplash)

CoinDesk Indices

CoinDesk 20 Performance Update: RNDR Bounces 14.2%, Leading Index Higher

The CoinDesk 20 saw a broad rally after its recent plunge, with RNDR up 14.2% and SOL up 8.3%.

9am CoinDesk 20 Update for 2024-08-06: Leaders

Markets

Bitcoin Bounces to $53K After Brutal Sell-Off Reminiscent of Covid Crash

Bitcoin's 30% decline in a week was for some observers reminiscent of the March 2020 crash, but there's been multiple occasions of similar drawdowns during previous bull markets.

Bitcoin price on Aug 5 (CoinDesk)

Markets

Is Bitcoin Still a Store of Value?

It depends on what you're trying to protect that value from. Market meltdowns like Monday's? No. Confiscation or monetary inflation? Maybe.

(New York Public Library)

News Analysis

Harris Likely to Pick Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro for Veep, Prediction Markets Say

Also: the Democrat gains on Trump but hasn't closed the gap, unlike in polls; Polymarket punters trade on Olympic women's boxing controversy.

AMBLER, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 29: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro speaks during a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris on July 29, 2024 in Ambler, Pennsylvania. Shapiro and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer campaigned to bring supporters behind Vice President Harris's campaign to protect Americans' freedoms, lower costs for families, and slam Trump's Project 2025 agenda. (Photo by Hannah Beier/Getty Images)

CoinDesk Indices

CoinDesk 20 Performance Update: Index Plunges 22.6% Amid Global Market Decline

NEAR and LINK were among the hardest hit as the CoinDesk 20 tumbled over the weekend.

9am CoinDesk 20 Update for 2024-08-05: laggards

Markets

Bitcoin Tumbles to $53K, Ether Turns Negative for 2024 as Panic Grips Markets

Japan's Nikkei fell more than another 6% early Monday, bringing that index's three-day decline to about 15%.

(H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images)

Policy

As Trump Suggests Crypto as a Fix to U.S. Debt, Harris Camp Highlights His Remarks

Former President Donald Trump shared some more thoughts on his recent crypto crush, and the campaign for Kamala Harris responded as it often has: It shared Trump's own words.

Former President Donald Trump praised crypto again while Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign seemed to mock the comments. (Mornings With Maria, Fox Business)

Markets

Bitcoin Slumps Below $63K, Altcoins Rekt, as Crypto Succumbs to Risk Off Mood

Likely also hitting prices was the movement of nearly $2 billion of BTC and ETH in wallets linked with Genesis Trading.

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)