Key Takeaways
- Michael Saylor, founder of Strategy (MSTR), has declared Bitcoin (BTC) to be "on sale," with his company acquiring an additional 430 BTC for approximately $51.4 million, bringing their total holdings to 629,376 BTC.
- Israeli airstrikes targeted Houthi infrastructure in Sanaa, Yemen, including an energy infrastructure site and power stations, in response to repeated Houthi attacks against Israel.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky affirmed the necessity of deploying "allied forces" on Ukrainian territories following a ceasefire, as discussions continue with international partners on security guarantees.
- SpaceX is poised for its 10th critical test flight of the Starship megarocket on Sunday, August 24, following a series of explosive setbacks this year, with the mission aiming to deploy Starlink simulators and test re-entry systems.
Bitcoin's Price Dip Prompts "Buying Opportunity" Call from Michael Saylor
Michael Saylor, the prominent Bitcoin (BTC) advocate and founder of Strategy (MSTR), has characterized the recent dip in Bitcoin's price as a significant "buying opportunity." On August 24, Bitcoin briefly fell below $115,000 USDT, trading at approximately $114,998.20 USDT, marking a 0.77% decrease over 24 hours. This market movement contributed to a 0.37% decline in the global cryptocurrency market cap.
In a strategic move, Strategy (MSTR) capitalized on the downturn, acquiring an additional 430 BTC for around $51.4 million at an average price of $119,666 per Bitcoin on August 18. This latest purchase elevates Strategy's total Bitcoin holdings to a substantial 629,376 BTC, acquired at an average cost of $73,320 per Bitcoin, with the company reporting a Year-to-Date (YTD) gain of 25.1% in 2025 on its Bitcoin investments. Other treasury firms, such as Metaplanet, also participated in the "buy the dip" strategy, purchasing 775 BTC for roughly $93 million. The first half of 2025 saw a significant increase in publicly traded companies holding Bitcoin, rising from 70 to 134, with total corporate holdings reaching 244,991 BTC. Additionally, El Salvador boosted its national Bitcoin reserves by seven coins, bringing its total to 6,278.18 Bitcoins, valued at over $719 million.
Israeli Airstrikes Target Houthi Infrastructure in Yemen Amid Escalating Tensions
Israeli airstrikes on Sunday, August 24, targeted critical Houthi infrastructure in Sanaa, Yemen, including an energy infrastructure site, fuel depots, and two electrical power stations. Israeli media, including Channel 12 News, reported on the strikes, which the Israeli military stated were a direct response to continuous Houthi attacks against Israel involving missiles and drones.
The Haziz power station (also referred to as the Hizyaz power plant) was among the key targets, with Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reporting that the "aggression" caused damage to generators and sparked a fire that was subsequently contained. Residents in Sanaa reported hearing at least two loud explosions during the attacks. The Israeli Navy was reportedly involved in carrying out some of these strikes. These actions follow a missile launch from Yemen on August 22 that landed in central Israel, causing no casualties but triggering air raid sirens, for which the Houthis claimed responsibility, stating they targeted Ben Gurion Airport.
Zelensky Calls for Allied Forces in Ukraine Post-Ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has underscored the critical need for deploying "allied forces" on Ukrainian territories after a ceasefire is established. This declaration comes as Ukraine, the United States, and European partners continue to work on the architecture of comprehensive security guarantees, with new developments anticipated "in the coming days".
Zelensky has consistently rejected any proposals that involve ceding Ukrainian territory, including the Donbas region and Crimea, emphasizing that such actions would violate Ukraine's constitution and potentially pave the way for future Russian aggression. Recent discussions involving President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska did not yield a ceasefire agreement. Reports indicate that Trump conveyed Putin's demands for Ukraine to surrender the Donbas in exchange for freezing front lines elsewhere. However, Russia has firmly rejected the notion of stationing European troops in Ukraine, labeling it "foreign military intervention". Zelensky expressed skepticism regarding Russia's commitment to peace talks, citing ongoing shelling of Ukrainian cities.
SpaceX Readies Starship for 10th Test Flight Amid Past Setbacks
SpaceX is preparing for a pivotal moment in its ambitious Starship program, with the 10th integrated test flight of its massive megarocket scheduled for Sunday, August 24, 2025. The launch is set to occur from Starbase in southern Texas, with a launch window opening at 6:30 pm local time (2330 GMT).
This upcoming flight is particularly critical given a series of explosive setbacks experienced by the Starship program this year. All three previous test flights in 2025 resulted in the upper stage exploding, and another upper stage was lost during a static fire test in June. The mission's objectives include putting the upper stage through rigorous trials, such as deploying eight Starlink simulators, attempting an in-space Raptor engine relight, and testing various heat shield and structural upgrades before a planned splashdown in the Indian Ocean. Notably, SpaceX will forego attempting to catch the booster stage with the launch tower's "chopstick" arms, instead planning experimental landing burns for the booster to drop into the Gulf of America. The success of Starship is vital for Elon Musk's long-term vision of colonizing Mars and for NASA's Artemis lunar lander, which aims to return Americans to the Moon by 2027. The repeated failures have raised concerns about the program's viability, with each prototype costing hundreds of millions of dollars.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.