** Shares of cryptocurrency and blockchain-related companies
rise tracking gains in Bitcoin and ether
** Bitcoin BTC= , the world's biggest cryptocurrency, gains
2.6% at $52,315. Ether ETH= climbs 6.2% to $3,124.6, touching
its highest levels since April 2022
** Crypto exchange Coinbase Global COIN.O rises 10.3%,
while Blockchain farm operator Bitfarms BITF.O up 12.3%
** Crypto miners Riot Platforms RIOT.O Marathon Digital
MARA.O , U.S.-listed shares of Hut 8 HUT.O and Bit Digital
BTBT.O up between 11% and 16%
** Software firm and BTC buyer MicroStrategy MSTR.O gains
13.8%
** BTC mining machine makers Ebang International EBON.O
and Canaan CAN.O up 9.1% and 11.2%, respectively
** ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF BITO.P adds 2.6%
** BTC has risen nearly 25% in the year
(Reporting by Khushi Singh)
((Khushi.Singh@thomsonreuters.com))