IREN Surges to $340M Volume 298th in Market Activity as Short Covering and AI Infrastructure Hype Clash with 2.6 Drop

On August 11, 2025, IREN (IREN) traded with a volume of $340 million, surging 41.96% from the prior day and ranking 298th in market activity. The stock closed down 2.60% amid mixed market signals. Recent institutional activity shows shifting ownership dynamics, with Mizuho Markets Americas reducing its stake by 15.1%, while Trivium Point Advisory LLC and Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased holdings. Short interest in IREN fell 4.84% month-on-month, suggesting improved investor sentiment despite 13.81% of shares sold short.

News coverage highlighted IREN’s alignment with AI infrastructure trends, positioning it as a provider of energy-efficient compute power for generative AI. A U.S. congressional representative’s recent purchase of IREN shares and reports of the company mining 728 Bitcoin in July added momentum. However, regulatory headwinds emerged as Trump-era tariffs targeted another crypto firm, indirectly affecting sector sentiment. Analysts remain divided, with eight buy ratings and two holds, while IREN’s P/B ratio of 3.08 raises valuation concerns.

Options activity revealed contrasting strategies: 33 call contracts totaling $2.58 million reflected bullish bets, while three put contracts worth $159,142 signaled bearish caution. The highest-volume trade, a $6.7 call option expiring June 2026, underscored speculative interest. Institutional ownership remains concentrated, with 41.08% held by institutions and 21.55% by insiders, indicating strong long-term confidence despite short-term volatility.

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