Bitcoin trades near $78,100 as investors weigh rising U.S. retail ownership and Strategy’s evolving capital plan tied to its Bitcoin holdings.

Real-world use is growing, with blue-collar workers in construction and manufacturing making up 21% of holders and 40% of holders now using digital tokens to pay for goods or transfers.

Regulatory filings show future debt repurchases could be funded by cash, stock issuance, or proceeds from Bitcoin sales, while Strategy’s Executive Chairman signaled selling portions of Bitcoin to fund dividends.

The broader altcoin market remains mixed, with Ethereum near $2,185, XRP around $1.41, Solana down, and major coins showing modest moves; Dogecoin and a notable meme asset trades flat.

New buyer demographics are expanding, with women representing 42% of new buyers, Gen X 26%, Boomers 13%, and ownership spanning middle- to lower-income brackets, including 90% earning under $500,000 and about a quarter under $75,000.

A 2026 State of Crypto Holders report from the National Cryptocurrency Association tallies 67 million Americans owning digital assets, roughly one in four adults.

Strategy plans to pivot toward its Stretch preferred stock program, while an 11.5% annual dividend on STRC prompts reevaluation of its no-sell policy for Bitcoin holdings.

Strategy unveiled a plan to repurchase $1.5 billion of its convertible senior notes due 2029, aiming to retire about $1.38 billion.