Key Highlights

  • Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) reported a Willow quantum chip result with errors cut about 40-fold on a Bitcoin-relevant benchmark, though large scaling hurdles remain before any machine could threaten the network, according to trade press reports.
  • AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) rose about 3% in premarket trading on Monday to near USD 40.66, after four European carriers signed a letter of intent to explore a joint satellite spectrum bid.
  • Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) proposed a 12.00% annual rate on its STRC preferred, paid daily, with a shareholder vote on October 28, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET, and the company holds 848,250 Bitcoin after its latest purchase.
  • Bitcoin (BTC) ended the week near USD 81,960, about 36% below its record of USD 128,198 set on October 6, 2025, simple arithmetic on two published prices, so crypto-linked themes carry heavy price risk.

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL): quantum chip

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) announced a research result for its Willow quantum chip: errors fell about 40-fold on a benchmark that is relevant to Bitcoin security, as reported on October 16, 2026. The benchmark concerns preparing quantum states that matter for attacking exposed Bitcoin keys, but the company and analysts note that a 40-fold error cut does not make an attack 40 times cheaper. Large scaling hurdles remain before any machine could threaten the network. The details come from trade press reports, so the Google research post should be checked before details are relied on, and the claims here are summaries. Bitcoin (BTC) ended the week near USD 81,960. Bitcoin relies on elliptic curve signatures, which a large fault-tolerant quantum computer could in theory break using Shor's algorithm, deriving a private key from an exposed public key. Today's machines are far too small and noisy, because logical qubits require many physical qubits to correct errors. One analysis estimated that about 1,200 logical qubits could threaten Bitcoin, which would require far more physical qubits. Cutting the error rate is progress, but it is one step among many, alongside better qubits, control systems and error-correcting codes. Other quantum names such as IonQ (NYSE:IONQ) are also tracked by investors who follow the theme. Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI) is another, although no price reaction was confirmed for either. For Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), quantum is a long-dated option, not a near-term earnings driver, and the shares fell 3.43% on Friday with the rest of the technology sector. For Bitcoin, the risk is that a credible quantum threat prompts a protocol change, which is difficult to coordinate.

AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS): satellite spectrum

AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) traded about 3% higher in premarket trading on Monday, October 19, 2026, at about USD 40.66, which implies a market value of USD 12.19 billion. The move followed an announcement that Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica and Vodafone signed a letter of intent to explore a joint bid for European satellite spectrum. A consortium of European carriers had been reported in early September, so the step looks like a formalisation. The announcement does not name AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) as a member. The premarket quote is a snapshot and may not match the regular session, so the size of the move should be treated as approximate. Satellite-to-phone services need radio spectrum, the licensed frequencies that carry signals between satellites and handsets. Operators that hold spectrum can build services without relying on a rival, which is why telecom groups want to bid together rather than leave the field to Starlink. AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) builds satellites intended to connect directly to standard phones, so it competes for the same opportunity, even if it is not in the consortium, and each carrier alliance changes the competitive field. The topic also links to SpaceX, which reports on Tuesday, October 20 after the close; in the second quarter SpaceX reported revenue of USD 7.8 billion, of which Starlink was USD 4.3 billion. The risk for AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) is that investors are buying a theme rather than a contract. A joint bid by carriers could also result in a partnership with a different provider, which would hurt the shares. The stock is volatile, and a premarket gain of 3% can disappear when the regular session opens.

Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR): preferred vote

Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) filed an 8-K on October 16, 2026 at 7:59 a.m. ET proposing that its STRC preferred stock pay dividends daily at a 12.00% annual rate. Shareholders vote on October 28 at 10:00 a.m. ET. The rate is a proposal until approved. The company held 848,250 Bitcoin after buying 250 Bitcoin between October 5 and 11, according to its October 12 disclosure. At about USD 81,960 per Bitcoin, simple arithmetic puts the holding near USD 69.5 billion, though the price moves daily. Strive priced 7 million preferred shares at USD 90 on October 14, about USD 630 million, settling on October 20, which shows demand for such securities. A preferred share pays a stated rate ahead of common stock but behind debt, and its dividends are not guaranteed because the board can skip them. Paying daily rather than monthly accrues income more smoothly and can make the security look more like cash, which may attract income buyers. The cost is borne by the common shareholders and the balance sheet, because the company must raise money, sell assets or use cash flow to fund payments. A rate of 12.00% on a growing preferred base creates a large annual bill, which the company must meet in cash. Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) has funded Bitcoin purchases by selling securities, so market conditions matter, and a weaker share price makes new issuance more costly. The main risk is funding: if Bitcoin falls or investor demand fades, paying 12.00% becomes harder. Bitcoin is about 36% below its record of USD 128,198, simple arithmetic, and the shares fell 9.6% on Friday after MSCI proposed new index rules for crypto treasuries. The vote could also fail or be amended.

Where Things Stand

The answer is that each story is a long-dated theme, not an immediate earnings event. Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) shows progress in quantum hardware. AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) sits near a telecom spectrum push it has not been shown to join. Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) faces a vote on a 12.00% preferred rate. Details come from published reports and filings that need confirming. The next catalysts are the research paper, carrier statements and the October 28 vote. This is not investment advice.