New York, March 1, 2026, 3:28 PM EST — The market’s done for the day.
- Chairman Michael Saylor said Strategy bumped the March dividend on STRC preferred shares up to 11.50%.
- Strategy wrapped up Friday at $129.50, down roughly 2.9%, with bitcoin hovering close to $65,000 through the weekend.
- Bitcoin’s direction is in focus Monday, with traders also eyeing how Strategy’s preferred shares stick close to par.
Strategy Inc bumped up the dividend on its STRC preferred stock by 25 basis points, bringing the March rate to 11.50%, Executive Chairman Michael Saylor announced. 1
This tweak is important: Strategy has put bitcoin right at the heart of its balance sheet, effectively making its stock a high-beta proxy for crypto volatility. Once known as MicroStrategy, the firm now pitches itself as a “Bitcoin Treasury” play to both common and preferred investors. 2
Strategy’s website pitches its common shares as “amplified exposure” to bitcoin, meaning investors get the heightened swings tied to its bitcoin stash, minus what the firm refers to as its credit instruments. That makes Monday’s opening bell the first straightforward signal of how crypto traded over the weekend. 3
Strategy closed out Friday at $129.50, down $3.90, after moving in a range from $127.86 to $131.12, Google Finance data show. After-hours, shares nudged higher to $129.72. Market cap sits near $41.2 billion. 4
Bitcoin slipped around 2.2% on Sunday, trading near $65,443 in the latest move.
Crypto stocks took a hit heading into the weekend. Shares of Coinbase dropped roughly 6.5% on Friday; the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF shed 4.9%. That leaves Monday’s mood hanging on whatever the token does next.
Defensive moves dominated the broader tape. The S&P 500 closed out Friday 0.4% lower, while the Nasdaq shed 0.9%. Inflation fears and ongoing geopolitical tension kept investors cautious—a risk-off mood that’s still echoing across crypto. 5
STRC, the perpetual preferred stock issued by Strategy, pays dividends but comes with no maturity date. The firm adjusts the annualized rate monthly, aiming to keep the price trading near its $100 par and limit swings. Still, Strategy makes it clear: the dividend isn’t a sure thing, and these preferred shares aren’t backed by its bitcoin reserves. 6
Common shareholders are now eyeing whether the richer payout will be enough to keep demand strong for the preferred shares—without Strategy’s funding costs spiraling. The announcement also throws a spotlight on the company’s leeway to raise more capital if bitcoin continues to lag.
U.S. markets get back to business Monday, March 2. Bitcoin’s in focus during those hours, as investors keep an eye out for fresh financing signals. Strategy’s next STRC record date lands on March 15, and the cash dividend is slated to go out March 31.
