Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said Strategy Inc.’s Bitcoin-buying model has added pressure to the broader crypto market, arguing that long-term value in digital assets will come from utility rather than financial engineering. In a CNBC interview on June 27, Garlinghouse stated that Strategy’s first Bitcoin sale in a while "definitely started something." He noted that its leveraged structure amplified excitement on the way up and is now compounding weakness on the way down.

Garlinghouse pointed to Strategy’s preferred stock STRC trading roughly 25% below par as a "damning indictment," saying the situation has not helped market sentiment. "Financial engineering does not drive long-term value," Garlinghouse noted, adding that digital assets must solve real problems at scale for customers to build liquidity, demand and trust. He added that he remains bullish on Bitcoin but argued that Strategy’s approach was "not focused on the right stuff."

Critics have argued that Strategy’s ability to continuously fund Bitcoin purchases through equity issuance is effectively paused until the stock regains a premium valuation. While Bitcoin remains the dominant store-of-value asset, Ripple is positioning XRP, stablecoins and institutional payments infrastructure as part of a broader shift toward tokenized finance.

Garlinghouse said he is bullish on Bitcoin, calling the current pullback a time to "be greedy when others are fearful." He reiterated that Bitcoin’s long-term value lies in its role as digital gold and XRP’s utility remains focused in bringing traditional finance onto blockchain. The interview also highlighted the convergence of artificial intelligence, stablecoins and tokenization, explaining how blockchain rails could become financial infrastructure for machines, autonomous agents and tokenized assets.

SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci urged investors on Sunday to capitalize on a Bitcoin buying opportunity, suggesting that current skepticism regarding Michael Saylor’s firm, Strategy Inc., presents a chance to gain an advantage. Scaramucci addressed the growing narrative that Saylor is going to get liquidated, advising followers not to get "left behind" during the early summer of 2026. He reaffirmed his support for Saylor’s Bitcoin accumulation approach, stating, "I ride with Saylor," and hinted at a potential turnaround once the market turbulence subsides.

Scaramucci also shared advice for novice investors, encouraging them to do their "homework" and avoid buying Bitcoin indiscriminately without conviction in its core attributes. He recommended a long-term investment horizon of four to five years and discouraged short-term trading. The SkyBridge founder, a long-standing Bitcoin advocate, noted that the cryptocurrency remains consistent with its typical four-year cycles and predicted a rally in the fourth quarter of 2026 into early 2027.

The advice comes amid a period of heightened skepticism toward Bitcoin and Strategy, a company widely viewed as a Bitcoin proxy. The cryptocurrency has plunged more than 18% in a month, while Strategy stock has dropped 48% over the same period. After peaking at $543 in November 2024, the stock fell to $82, with its market capitalization shrinking from $128 billion to $28 billion. According to Forbes, Saylor’s net worth has decreased from over $7 billion to $3 billion.

Key Market Data

At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $60,064.87, down 0.16% in the last 24 hours. Strategy shares closed 3.54% lower at $82.31 during the recent regular trading session. Market analysis indicates that Strategy has underperformed across short-, medium-, and long-term timeframes.