Bitcoin traded near $63,900 on Thursday, easing slightly, as U.S. stock futures rose on strong results from Microsoft that reassured investors the heavy spending on AI is starting to pay off, per CoinDesk data. S&P 500 futures gained 0.2% and Nasdaq 100 contracts rose 0.4% after the index had slipped into a correction, with Microsoft up 8% in premarket after its cloud unit grew at the fastest pace in four years while it held the line on spending.That is the read the market has wanted all month. Where Alphabet last week raised its spending forecast and unsettled investors, Microsoft showed the returns arriving without a bigger bill in a sign that AI capex is converting to growth. Bitcoin has tracked that trade closely, moving with the chip and AI complex rather than on anything crypto-specific.
Live updates: Bitcoin holds near $64,000 as Microsoft's AI payoff lifts stocks
S&P 500 futures gained 0.2% and Nasdaq 100 contracts rose 0.4% after the index had slipped into a correction, with Microsoft up 8% in premarket after its cloud unit grew at the fastest pace in four years while it held the line on spending.
TL;DRAI
Microsoft cloud posted 4-year peak growth while maintaining capex—proving AI spending yields returns vs. Alphabet's raise. Tech leaders gain board cover for AI budgets. Market repriced stack (Nasdaq +0.4%); capex reads as growth driver, not cost center.
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