James Van Straten

James Van Straten is a Senior Analyst at CoinDesk, specializing in Bitcoin and its interplay with the macroeconomic environment. Previously, James worked as a Research Analyst at Saidler & Co., a Swiss hedge fund, where he developed expertise in on-chain analytics. His work focuses on monitoring flows to analyze Bitcoin's role within the broader financial system.

In addition to his professional endeavors, James serves as an advisor to Coinsilium, a UK publicly traded company, where he provides guidance on their Bitcoin treasury strategy. He also holds investments in Bitcoin, MicroStrategy (MSTR), and Semler Scientific (SMLR).

James Van Straten

Latest from James Van Straten


Markets

One of Italy's Largest Banks Buys $1M Worth of Bitcoin: Report

Banking giant Intesa Sanpaolo, which has a market cap of $73 billion, has made its first crypto purchase.

Italy (Tanya Lapko / Unsplash)

Markets

Global Investment Giant Capital Group Reaches 5% Stake in Bitcoin Holder Metaplanet

Capital Group is also the second-largest shareholder in MicroStrategy, trailing only Michael Saylor.

stacking coins (structuresxx/Shutterstock)

Markets

MicroStrategy Added 2,530 Bitcoin for $243M, Bringing Holdings to 450K BTC

During a presentation in Orlando on Monday, Saylor told executives to invest in bitcoin instead of bonds, which he labeled as "toxic."

MicroStrategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor

Markets

Bitcoin Difficulty Hits All-Time High, Adjusts Positively for 8th Consecutive Time

When bitcoin typically puts in these many consecutive positive adjustments it has marked near cycle tops and bottoms.

BTC Difficulty Adjustment (Glassnode)

Markets

Bitcoin Registers 14 Green Hourly Candles, Longest Streak Since 2017

K33 Research suggests this type of price action has only occurred a few times since 2017.

BTCUSD - 1 Hour Time Frame (TradingView)

Markets

Bitcoin Funding Rates Briefly Went Negative, Usually Marks a Local Bottom: Van Straten

Glassnode data shows that the perpetual funding rate went negative for the first time in 2025.

BTC Futures Perpetual Funding Rate (Glassnode)

Markets

Market Fears of Potential Selling Pressure From Possible Silk Road Sale is Overblown: Van Straten

Since September, the market has absorbed over 1 million bitcoins, while the price has gone from around $60,000 to over $100,000.

Department of Justice (Shutterstock)